Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag could be boosted by the return of Brazilian midfielder Casemiro for Sunday's Manchester derby with Manchester City in the Premier League.
The former Real Madrid man picked up a knock on international duty with the Selecao, ruling him out of the Red Devils' recent wins over Sheffield United and Copenhagen in the top flight and Champions League respectively.
Casemiro is facing a race against time to prove his fitness, but he might be considered for an immediate recall to the XI here, although the same should not be said for Aaron Wan-Bissaka, even though the right-back is close to returning from a thigh issue.
None of Lisandro Martinez (foot), Luke Shaw (muscle), Amad Diallo (knee) or Tyrell Malacia (knee) will be back just yet either, while there is still no end in sight to Jadon Sancho's banishment from the first team.
Casemiro's return to fitness could spell danger for Sofyan Amrabat, who was only on the field for 45 minutes against Copenhagen before being withdrawn for Christian Eriksen, who has also staked his claim for a start.
As a result, the regular partners from the 2022-23 season could reunite in the centre of the park, forcing Amrabat and Scott McTominay - who conceded a late penalty on Tuesday night - to accept substitute roles.
McTominay's blushes were spared by the heroics of Andre Onana, who should line up behind an unchanged shield of Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Raphael Varane and Sergio Reguilon at the Theatre of Dreams.
While Man United enter the derby on the back of three successive wins, none of Bruno Fernandes, Antony, Marcus Rashford or Rasmus Hojlund has found the back of the net in that time, but the quartet should line up in the final third as ever.
Alejandro Garnacho could be at risk of a sanction for using gorilla emojis in a post about Onana - which the goalkeeper has played down - but he remains available to Ten Hag at the time of writing.
Manchester United possible starting lineup: Onana; Dalot, Varane, Maguire, Reguilon; Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund
> Click here to see how Man City could line up for Sunday's derby
Ben Knapton
