Team news for United v Bodo/Glimt

Lisandro Martinez will be available again for Manchester United, when we face Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League on Thursday.

The Argentinian missed Ruben Amorim’s first game in charge, at Ipswich, due to a back injury, but was back with the group during Wednesday’s open training session, alongside Harry Maguire, who has been sidelined since early October.

Ahead of his opening Old Trafford outing, Amorim confirmed that, although Maguire was not yet ready for first-team action, Martinez could be in contention.

“Not Harry. Licha is ready,” Ruben replied when asked if the pair could play against the Norwegians.

“He didn’t stop [playing] too much time so I feel he is ready. It is a different situation with Harry, we need them both but they are in a different situation. They are both training, Harry soon will be on the pitch also.”

The imminent return of the World Cup winner will help boost the defensive options for the continental clash, although it looks like Victor Lindelof and Leny Yoro will still be missing.

Neither player was involved at Carrington in the section which was watched by the media, but Amorim did provide a brief update on Yoro, who is still waiting to make his competitive Reds debut following summer surgery.

“He is available to train but we are working on his fitness. This is important,” Amorim said.

“He is a young guy, this is a massive club. It’s very important the first image, so we will try to put it together because he’s a great talent.

“We believe a lot in him and we are trying to prepare the best way to start with Leny.”

Jonny Evans was also missing from Wednesday’s open session, but youngster Godwill Kukonki was present.

Noussair Mazraoui and Luke Shaw are also options in central defence, after featuring there in Suffolk, while Kobbie Mainoo and Tyrell Malacia are hoping to make a comeback from injury, having been unused substitutes on Sunday.

BODO/GLIMT TEAM NEWS

There is talk of Kjetil Knutsen resting some of his key players, as the Norwegian champions have a hugely important Eliteserien game on Sunday. If Bodo/Glimt beat Lillestrom, they will claim a fourth title in five years, and that looming fixture could have an impact on team selection, even for their first-ever trip to Old Trafford.

Former Manchester City youth player Omar Elabdellaoui, who also had a short stint with Hull City, is ineligible, so Philip Zinckernagel is the only member of the squad with experience in English football – he played for Watford and Nottingham Forest, between his two spells with the Norwegians.

Daniel Bassi, Runar Espejord and Nino Zugelj have not been registered in the European squad due to long-term injury.

Bodo/Glimt’s continental campaign is already 10 games old, as they had six Champions League play-off fixtures to contend with. The goals have been shared around, with Jens Petter Hauge the top scorer in Europe, netting three out of a total of 20.

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