Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has confirmed Leny Yoro and Harry Maguire are in contention for Tuesday night's trip to Nottingham Forest.
The duo were sidelined through injury prior to the international break, missing two and four matches respectively. However, they both appeared in training footage released by the club on Friday.
However, the trip to the Midlands will arrive too soon for Luke Shaw to be involved. The left-back has been out since December with a muscle issue and is understood to have made good progress with his recovery, but Amorim has said he is in need of more time.
Elsewhere, the United chief has confirmed Ayden Heaven's injury is not going to sideline him for the rest of the season, confirming it was "not so serious". The trip to Forest will come too soon for him, though.
Meanwhile, Kobbie Mainoo and Jonny Evans are both continuing with their respective recoveries, but neither of them will be available to face Forest.
Recap the blog below for everything Amorim had to say in his pre-match press conference...
Key Events
That's all
We're calling time on our coverage of Ruben Amorim's pre-match press conference here, folks.
Thank you to all of you who have tuned in. Continue to check out the MEN website for more stories and build-up ahead of tomorrow night's game at the City Ground.
FULL STORY: Obi to miss Forest clash
Youngster Chido Obi will play no part in United's Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest at the City Ground tomorrow night after being included in the Under-18s' plans for their FA Youth Cup semi-final at Villa Park tonight.
United's youngsters face Aston Villa in the Midlands this evening vying for a second FA Youth Cup final appearance in four seasons. The winner of tonight's game will face either Manchester City or Watford in the final.
Head coach Ruben Amorim said:
"He is going to play today because we try to imagine the next game and if you look before he was on the bench and just played against Fulham, but just 10 minutes at the end of the game, and we have to manage the minutes, we have to give the minute stop the kid."
FULL STORY: United get double injury boost
Harry Maguire and Leny Yoro are in contention to return for United against Nottingham Forest tomorrow but Luke Shaw is not ready.
Maguire, Yoro and Shaw all resumed team training on Friday but Shaw has not played in four months and last started for United against Luton Town on February 18 last year.
Amorim said:
"Luke is not ready yet. We are starting to do some drills with the team but we are building Luke. Mason Mount is feeling better but he was already on the bench the last game. Kobbie (Mainoo) is almost returning but he is not ready for this game. Jonny Evans is recovering, Ayden is recovering. Licha (Martinez) is out, I think that's it. Maguire is also ready to go to the game and Yoro, yes."
Click here to read the full story.
That's a wrap
That concludes the open section of Ruben Amorim's pre-Nottingham Forest press conference.
Stay tuned to the Manchester Evening News website for more stories and reaction.
More from Amorim on Forest
"The environment will be really nice, they are doing amazing. But we want to continue to win games."
Amorim on Nuno and the job he has done at Forest
"I am not surprised; he is a top manager."
Amorim on Rashford
"We have a lot of games to play and I am focused on my team and my players. [Marcus] Rashford is not my player at the moment, but I am happy when our players are playing well on loan."
Amorim on United's schedule
"We had that kind of schedule in the last weeks with less players. It is really important for us to have these players available for us to fight. I think it is a very good moment in our season. I know we will have at least three games in the Premier League that are really tough. The Europa League is also really important."
Amorim on targets for the rest of the season
"I don't know which place we are going to finish in, but we want to win games. We still have matches to finish in a different position. We are more confident, so we are looking up. We want to win games and are looking up at the moment."
Amorim on the mood in the camp
"I think I can say that I am really confident and the players are more confident. The energy is different, but I know that could change with results. We know we have to improve and we are ready for these final two months of this season."
Amorim on Heaven
"It was not so serious. He's recovering, he’s not ready to play but he's going to return this season, for sure."
Amorim on injury news
"Luke [Shaw] is not ready yet. We are starting to do some drills with the team but we are building Luke. Mason Mount is feeling better but he was already on the bench the last game. Kobbie [Mainoo] is almost returning but he is not ready for this game. Jonny Evans is recovering, Ayden is recovering. Licha [Martinez] is out, I think that's it. [Harry] Maguire is also ready to go to the game and [Leny] Yoro, yes."
Quotes on the way
The embargo on Ruben Amorim's pre-match press conference has been lifted and we can now start to bring you quotes from the United head coach.
Stay tuned for updates.
Amorim on the way
Ruben Amorim is due to sit down with the media any moment now, but his quotes will be embargoed until 1.30pm.
Once that embargo is lifted, we will bring you updates of everything the United head coach has to say.
Securing back-to-back wins has been a problem
You have to go back to United's final two games of last season for the last time they won back-to-back Premier League matches, highlighting just how big a problem consistency has been this season.
Having won 3-0 at Leicester City last time out, United will be keen to build on that result at Nottingham Forest tomorrow night, but they will be fully aware of the fantastic season Forest are having.
Furthermore, you have to go back to February last year for the last time United won successive away games in the Premier League, and that particular run saw them win three in a row on the road.
Alongside United, only Ipswich Town and Southampton have failed to win back-to-back Premier League games this term.
What time will Amorim speak?
Ruben Amorim is scheduled to sit down and talk to the media at 1.30pm today, meaning we should be able to start bringing you everything he has to say in around 45 minutes time.
Remember: there is no need to refresh the blog for updates, they should appear automatically.
OPINION: United will have to break new transfer rule this summer to sign dream target
"The biggest priority facing United ahead of this summer's transfer window is the addition of a striker. After spending an initial fee of £64million on Rasmus Hojlund in August 2023 and then signing Joshua Zirkzee who has turned out not to be a striker just under a year later, United can't afford to sign another unproven goal-getter this time around. Hojlund was signed at the age of just 20 and Zirkzee slightly older at 23. With respect, neither of them had done anything to suggest they had the credentials to become a starting striker at Old Trafford. It is why United are going to have to break their own transfer policy this summer and sign a ready-made striker to pick up the baton from Hojlund and become the club's starting No.9. They need someone who can come in with a proven goalscoring record and hit the ground running."
Click here to read more from United writer George Smith.
United fans will want news on Heaven
The section of the training session United broadcasted on Friday confirmed Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw are back involved ahead of tomorrow night's trip to Nottingham Forest.
However, there was no sign of Ayden Heaven, who was forced off in the 3-0 win at Leicester City just over a fortnight ago. He left the King Power Stadium wearing a protective boot but the Manchester Evening News has since confirmed the injury is not as bad as first feared.
However, United are yet to confirm the full extent of his injury and how soon he might be back. Supporters will be desperate to hear positive news on him from Ruben Amorim this lunchtime.
The midweek fixtures
With no Premier League action having taken place over the weekend, there is a full slate of action taking place this midweek, with all 20 clubs in action.
Here is the full fixture list:
Tuesday:
- Arsenal vs Fulham (7.45pm)
- Wolves vs West Ham United (7.45pm)
- Nottingham Forest vs United (8pm)
Wednesday:
- Bournemouth vs Ipswich Town (7.45pm)
- Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa (7.45pm)
- Manchester City vs Leicester City (7.45pm)
- Newcastle United vs Brentford (7.45pm)
- Southampton vs Crystal Palace (7.45pm)
- Liverpool vs Everton (8pm)
Thursday:
- Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur (8pm)
Forest are having a season to remember
Nottingham Forest fans must be waking up every morning and having to pinch themselves.
Already occuyping an unexpected top four berth, currently sitting third, Forest progressed to the semi-finals of the FA Cup on Saturday, beating Brighton & Hove Albion on penalties.
Their semi-final showdown with Manchester City at Wembley next month will mark their first trip to the national stadium since winning the Championship play-off final as little as three years ago.
Having stormed their way through the Championship field in 2021/22 to secure promotion, to be in with a very strong chance of qualifying for the Champions League just three years later is an incredible achievement.
They are having a wonderful season and United know they will be in for a very, very stern test tomorrow night.
United are playing for more than just pride in the league
Despite having nine Premier League games remaining this season, United's league campaign has long since been dead in the water.
They currently find themselves 13th in the table on 37 points, 12 shy of the top four and 20 clear of relegation. The best they can probably hope for, based on how this season has unfolded, is a mid-table finish.
A lack of consistency has been United's biggest problem this season, with Ruben Amorim's side yet to win back-to-back league games this term.
With United, for example, currently seven points behind 10th-placed Bournemouth, you could say they have nothing but pride to play for in the league. However, the higher you finish up the Premier League ladder, the greater the prize money.
With finances tight at Old Trafford, United need as much revenue as possible ahead of the summer transfer window. Finishing a few places higher up the table could have a real impact on their budget.
United's last five results
The fact United had no game at the weekend makes it feel even longer since they last played. But when they did last take to the field, 15 days ago, they beat Leicester City 3-0, ensuring they signed off for the final international break of the season on a high.
Here is a reminder of their last five results:
- Leicester City 0-3 United (Premier League)
- United 4-1 Real Sociedad (Europa League)
- United 1-1 Arsenal (Premier League)
- Real Sociedad 1-1 United (Europa League)
- United 1-1 Fulham (3-4 on pens, FA Cup)
What will be on the agenda?
Ruben Amorim last spoke to the media following United's 3-0 win at Leicester City on March 16, meaning he should have plenty to sink his teeth into this lunchtime.
A wide range of topics are expected to be up for discussion, including the following;
- Latest injury news
- Ayden Heaven's progress
- Mood within the squad
- Plans and hopes for the rest of the season
- Competition for places at No.10
- Nottingham Forest's season
- Plans for the summer
Good morning!
Hello and welcome along to the Manchester Evening News' live coverage of Ruben Amorim's pre-match press conference ahead of tomorrow night's clash with Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
The United head coach is sccheduled to speak to the media this lunchtime to look ahead to the trip to the Midlands and issue an update on the very latest team news.
We will bring you everything he has to say, so make sure you stay tuned to this LIVE blog for regular updates.
There is no need to refresh the page, updates will appear automatically.
