Lee Grant returned to training for Manchester United on Monday to give the squad a near full bill of health.
The veteran goalkeeper had been out injured with an arm injury which required surgery.
The delay to the season has given Grant extra time to recover.
He told the club website in February: “I’ve fallen foul of a little bit of bad luck and a small injury ended up being worse than I thought. It’s left me with a couple of months for a period of rehab, which is frustrating, but it has to be done. It was one of those where you know something is not quite right.”
United published a selection of training photos on Instagram on Monday evening, and for the first time since the restart, Grant was pictured.
The veteran goalkeeper signed a one-year contract extension just before his injury, which came as a little bit of a surprise, as United have younger back-up options.
But United clearly like his experienced presence behind the scenes and Grant is already working on his coaching badges.
Nearly a full house
While Grant is only a third choice back-up option for United, and most likely will not be needed on the pitch when the season restarts.
His presence though almost clears out United’s treatment room, which has already seen Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford recover from injury.
It may not be easy to keep this clear when the season resumes, but it shows United really are full strength heading into the first match with Tottenham on June 19.
It all just adds to the feel good factor around the club at present, which hopefully the team can immediately capitalise on.
Grant’s return likely means young goalkeeper Nathan Bishop will step down in the pecking order, having risen to third choice since his move from Southend United. This saw him travel with United’s matchday squads as emergency cover.
One man missing
There has been one player missing from Manchester United’s training sessions over the past week: Phil Jones.
The back-up defender was not pictured at Carrington or in the team’s training match at Old Trafford on Saturday.
There has been no confirmation of an injury, although we assume his absence is fitness related.
Jones is currently fifth choice centre-back at United, possibly sixth if you consider Luke Shaw slotting in as part of a back three in January and February.
So while unlikely he features, United just need him to return to give the team a complete bill of health.
On Monday, young defender Teden Mengi stepped up to first team training, possibly in Jones’ place. It was an opportunity for him to jump ahead of the former England international.
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