Erik ten Hag‘s Manchester United side has been pictured training at Carrington ahead of Thursday’s Europa League clash against Omonia Nicosia.
Fresh after beating Frank Lampard’s Everton 2-1 at Goodison Park on Sunday night, United’s first team was split into two groups during a training session at Carrington yesterday.
Players that heavily featured in the win against the Toffees carried out a recovery session, while other first team stars and several of the club’s talented youngsters formed a full session.
Here are three things we spotted from Manchester United’s latest training session.
Cristiano Ronaldo all smiles
Fresh after netting the winner on Merseyside, which was the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s 700th goal in club football, Ronaldo was all smiles and seemingly had a spring in his step at Carrington.
With back-to-back home games against Omonia and Newcastle United to come on Thursday and Sunday, United’s number seven will no doubt be looking to begin his assault on reaching the 800-goal milestone.
Having started the last six Premier League games on the bench, the former Juventus man will be hoping to earn his first top-flight start since August when Eddie Howe’s Magpies come to M16 on Sunday.
Fred lunging into tackles
The 29-year-old Brazil international hasn’t started a game for Manchester United since we lost to Real Sociedad in our Europa League opener.
With Scott McTominay, Christian Eriksen and Casemiro all ahead of United’s number 17 in Ten Hag’s pecking order, the former Shakhtar Donetsk man is having to make do with cameo substitute appearances currently.
In yesterday’s training session with the club’s youngsters, the 27-time Brazil international flew into a sliding tackle on a slick Carrington pitch, and nearly took out both Alejandro Garnacho and Zidane Iqbal as a result.
Jadon Sancho and Anthony Martial notable absentees
After being replaced by Ronaldo on the half hour mark against Everton after picking up a back injury, Martial didn’t feature in yesterday’s training session.
Going off the club’s released pictures and training footage, Jadon Sancho was also missing from the session despite not featuring against the blue half of Merseyside.
It was the first time during the 2022-23 campaign that the former Borussia Dortmund man had started a Premier League game on the bench.
United’s number 25 will be hoping to earn a recall for Thursday’s clash against Neil Lennon’s Cypriot side, but that may depend on whether he’s available.
Ten Hag will probably provide a collective fitness update in tomorrow’s press conference.
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