Manchester United team news: Bastian Schweinsteiger has outside chance of featuring as Antonio Valencia returns

Schweinsteiger has not played since late October after having ankle surgery while Schweinsteiger has returned to training

Bastian Schweinsteiger returned to training for Manchester United (Reuters)

Manchester United will be without both Jesse Lingard and Adnan Januzaj for Thursday’s Europa League last-16 clash with Liverpool, meaning that Antonio Valencia could be in line for a recall to the substitutes’ bench after four-an-a-half months out with injury.

Valencia injured his ankle in October following the 0-0 draw with Manchester City, and was forced to undergo surgery that was expected to keep him out of action until April. The 30-year-old has recovered quicker than expected though, and with Lingard suspended and Januzaj cup-tied, the Ecuadorean looks set to be handed an early return, albeit to the substitutes’ bench.

Lingard misses out after being booked in both legs of the last-32 aggregate victory over Midtjylland, while Januzaj cannot play in the competition having represented Borussia Dortmund during his ill-fated loan move their earlier in the season.

One player who has an outside chance of featuring is the midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger after the 31-year-old returned to training on Wednesday. The World Cup winner has not played since the FA Cup third round victory over Sheffield United on 9 January having struggled with a knee injury, but VUnited manager Louis van Gaal revealed that both he and defender Phil Jones have stepped up their recoveries, although the England defender will not be risked for the Europa League clash.

Click on the gallery below to find out the latest Manchester United injury news.

Despite the return to fitness of a number of key players, United still have a lengthy injury list to cope with. Captain Wayne Rooney remains sidelined with a knee injury that will keep him out for the rest of the month, while fellow striker Will Keane has a groin injury.

Luke Shaw and Ashley Young remain long-term absentees, while Cameron Borthwick-Jackson will not feature at Anfield.