Scott McTominay is set to feature for Manchester United against Southampton tonight after he was pictured arriving at the team with the rest of the squad.
The midfielder was forced off in the first half at Arsenal with stomach cramps but he’s recovered from the ailment and is part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s plans for the Old Trafford fixture.
There was no sign of Amad Diallo arriving with the rest of the squad, so the 18-year-old will have to wait for his first involvement in a matchday squad.
But Victor Lindelof, who hasn’t played twice a week since mid-December, is included, as is Brandon Williams, who last made the bench in a Premier League game for United on December 5.
Axel Tuanzebe, who was on the bench against Arsenal and started against Sheffield United a week ago, wasn’t pictured arriving with the squad, while there was also no Juan Mata.
United’s schedule has been a brutal one so far this season and they’re yet to enjoy a free midweek since their campaign began in September.
They will play another eight games in February, including the return of Europa League action with a last-32 fixture against Real Sociedad.
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“Every team is in the same situation and position,” Solskjaer said. “Whoever recovers the best and performs the best will win, whoever’s coping with the situation the best.
“We want to put a run together. Since November 1, we’ve lost against Sheffield United and that’s the only defeat we’ve had in the league. We need to get back to performing at that level and standard.
“Sometimes you’ve got to be lucky and sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good. More times than not, it’s best to just focus on yourself and keep on being consistent in your behaviours. If you prepare the same way and approach a game the right way, you’ll get results.
“We just have to focus on getting past Real Sociedad which feels like a Champions League tie with the quality they’ve got. Of course, Europe, Thursday night, Sunday – we’ll have less recovery before that game compared to the other teams. For us as well, that’s going to be a challenge that we’ll take head on.”
Southampton arrive at Old Trafford facing an injury crisis and on a run of one win in eight Premier League games, a run of form that has seen them slip to 11th in the table.
“They’re a good side. They’re physical, they run, they’ve got high energy. ‘Rock-and-roll football’ as I like to call it,” Solskjaer said of tonight’s opponents.
“High energy all the time. If the ball goes forward, they get shots off and crosses in. They have good set-piece delivery – we know all about that. But we have given them problems as well.”
Confirmed squad members
De Gea, Henderson, Grant, Wan-Bissaka, Williams, Lindelof, Maguire, Bailly, Telles, Shaw, Matic, Fred, McTominay, Van de Beek, Pogba, Fernandes, James, Rashford, Greenwood, Martial, Cavani
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