Thursday 20 April 2017 20:18, UK
Wayne Rooney could return to the bench for the second leg of Manchester United's Europa League quarter-final clash with Anderlecht on Thursday (kick-off 8.05pm).
The striker, who has been suffering with an ankle injury, has not featured since a 16-minute cameo during United's goalless draw at home to West Brom on April 1.
United earned a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Belgium, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan's away goal giving them the edge before Thursday's meeting.
But Anderlecht, who sit top of the Jupiler League, have not lost in their past seven matches, winning five, and are bidding to reach the semi-finals of a European competition for the first time since 1990.
United will be in confident mood, however, after an impressive 2-0 win over Premier League leaders Chelsea on Sunday.
They face a quick turnaround before resuming Premier League action live on Sky Sports on Super Sunday when they travel to Burnley.
Rooney will be assessed by Jose Mourinho on Wednesday afternoon with a view to being a substitute at Old Trafford.
The United manager confirmed Sergio Romero will start in goal instead of David De Gea. but Phil Jones (foot), Chris Smalling (knee) and Juan Mata (groin) remain out.
Manchester United's largest ever victory was against the Belgian side in September 1956, beating them 10-0 in a European Cup preliminary game.
United have won all four of their previous home encounters with Belgian sides (including three vs Anderlecht), scoring 21 goals and conceding just two.
Anderlecht have never won in 17 previous away games against English sides (D2 L15), conceding in every game.
Mourinho has won his last eight European home games as manager, including all five with United this season.
Anderlecht have scored in each of their past 11 European away games, since a 0-1 loss at FK Qarabag in October 2015.
United have kept a clean sheet in their last three European home games. They last had a longer run in 2008 - a run of five en route to lifting the Champions League.
United have progressed from five of their past six European ties in which they drew the first leg away from home, failing only against Real Madrid in the 2013 Champions League last 16.
Four of Zlatan Ibrahimovic's five goals in the Europa League this season have come at Old Trafford.
First of all what a result for United at the weekend. We were blessed to get Mourinho on Soccer Saturday having a chat with Jeff Stelling.
He seemed like he was at the end of the world with injury problems and not being happy with his strikers, but he gets a big result when they needed it.
They've got a big group and they're obviously not all players Jose likes, but he got it bang on with his changes on Sunday and he'll be able to bring a fresh Ibrahimovic back in.
Anderlecht will have to come out and play and I just think that man Zlatan will step up for them and prove he is the main man after watching Marcus Rashford take the plaudits at the weekend.
Charlie predicts: 2-0 and Ibrahimovic to score first - 9/1 with Sky Bet
