Man United targeting returns for Amad and Matthijs de Ligt this weekend against Brentford | OneFootball

Manchester United are set to welcome back Amad and Matthijs de Ligt from injury this week with the club targeting a return to the pitch for the pair against Brentford on Sunday afternoon.

Amad suffered a serious ankle injury in February during which had initially appeared to have ended the 22-year-old winger’s season as it required surgery.

However, the Ivorian international has performed a miraculous recovery and is now set to return to first-team training this week with the first leg of United’s season-defining clash in the Europa League against Athletic Club on Thursday evening.

Similarly, De Ligt, 25, has recovered from a foot injury which had ruled the Dutchman out of the last seven games after he had firmly established himself at the heart of Ruben Amorim’s defence.

The prospect of both stars returning is a major boost for Ruben Amorim who has watched his side’s form tank in recent months in the pair’s absence.

United are targeting this weekend’s Premier League match with Brentford as “an opportunity to give [Amad and De Ligt] game time,” the Manchester Evening News reports.

This means this week’s trip to Bilbao will come too early for either player but offers hope both will be able to play a part in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford next Thursday.

‘Bilbao or bust’ has become the mantra in recent weeks with success in the Europa League offering United the last chance of salvaging an otherwise dismal season for the club.

The final of the competition is set to take place at the Estadio de San Mamés – Athletic Club’s home ground. And this is who the Red Devils must first overcome in their semi-final clash to set up a match against either Premier League rival Tottenham Hotspur or Norway’s Bodo/Glimt, who face off in the other side of the draw.

United’s form has been terrible in recent weeks, however, and Athletic are currently fourth in La Liga after an impressive season for the Basque club. Amorim’s team will need to demonstrate a radical improvement to progress past their Spanish counterparts.

But prospect of being able to rely on Amad and De Ligt – at least for the second leg – will be a crucial one to this upturn in performance, given both player’s impressive displays under their Portuguese manager prior to their respective injuries.

Elsewhere, Toby Collyer could also be set to return from injury this week after sustaining a “small issue” three weeks ago, providing some much-needed depth and energy in midfield.

Featured image Naomi Baker via Getty Images

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