UEL: Manchester United v Rostov preview

Manchester United v Rostov preview

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is set to return for the second leg of Manchester United's Europa League last-16 clash with FC Rostov on Thursday evening.

Ibrahimovic is available because his three-game ban only applies to domestic fixtures, and the forward's presence offers United manager Jose Mourinho an alternative in attack.

Marcus Rashford started as striker in United's 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter-finals at Stamford Bridge on Monday night, despite suffering from a bout of illness.

However, despite training on Wednesday, fellow striker Anthony Martial will not be available for the tie, which is finely balanced after the two teams drew 1-1 in last week's first leg.

The 21-year-old was present as Mourinho's squad prepared for the clash, though he did so away from the main group along with Luke Shaw, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Axel Tuanzebe.

 

"He [Martial] was injured for the Chelsea match, he couldn't be selected for the Chelsea match," Mourinho said.

"If you are injured for the Monday night game, it's because you are injured for the Tuesday morning training session and if you are injured for the Tuesday morning training session it's not because of (what he does) today that you can be able to play on Thursday. So he is out of my mind.

"I don't think about him. We have the same players in the last match plus Ibrahimovic returning for the Europa League."

There was also no sign of Wayne Rooney at Wednesday's training session after the striker sustained a knock in a training-ground collision with Phil Jones and missed the trip to Chelsea, with Mourinho confirming that the England captain is still receiving treatment.

"He's injured," Mourinho said. "It was some kick in his knee area so he can't even come out to the pitch. He stays inside with the medical department."