Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic set to make Premier League return for Manchester Utd
Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will return from his domestic ban when Manchester United host West Ham on Sunday.
The 35-year-old missed the 1-1 draw with Arsenal having been booked five times but played in the Europa League against Feyenoord on Thursday, when the likes of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Wayne Rooney may have impressed Jose Mourinho sufficiently to keep their spots in the Premier League.
Mourinho, who is expected to recall goalkeeper David de Gea but remains without Eric Bailly (knee) and Chris Smalling (toe), must determine whether Michael Carrick can make a third start in nine days.
Anthony Martial could also return after he was left out of Mourinho's squad against Feyenoord.
When asked about the 20-year-old Frenchman's omission, Mourinho confirmed Martial had not been injured, spoke of how he had wanted to bring Mkhitaryan into the team and then added that "players...have to win their positions".
Mourinho said of Martial: "He was okay for the game, it was just an option.
"He played on Saturday (in the 1-1 draw against Arsenal) and I cannot play with 12 players. I cannot have, (with those) on the bench, 19 or 20.
"You wanted to see Mkhitaryan (who shone on what was only his second United start) and I wanted to too. I cannot play all of them at the same time.
"Anthony played against Arsenal, and (Thursday) was the moment to give a chance to Mkhitaryan to start.
"So it was just an option - and I think the players, they have to win their positions.
"They are friends, they are colleagues, they work together every day, but in the end they compete between themselves to have more chances to play."
Andy Carroll is in line for a shock return for West Ham.
The striker only resumed training this week following his latest injury lay-off, a three-month absence with a knee problem.
But manager Slaven Bilic is considering including the 27-year-old in his squad at Old Trafford as he bids to turn around their stuttering season.
"He's been training with us for three days," said Bilic. "He came back after a long injury and he's very close.
"He could be in the squad. We're going to see, because we are not talking about two weeks of training so we can say definitely. It has been this week, so we'll see."
West Ham captain Mark Noble returns from suspension but defender Winston Reid serves a one-match ban.
Midfielder Pedro Obiang is expected to be available despite missing training earlier this week due to an ankle injury.
But Reece Oxford, Sam Byram, Gokhan Tore and Arthur Masuaku are still sidelined.
Source: PAR
