MOUNT AND UGARTE BACK IN TRAINING
Manchester United have received some positive news ahead of their crucial Europa League round-of-16 clash against Real Sociedad, with midfielders Mason Mount and Manuel Ugarte returning to full training. However, there were notable absentees from the session, including young defender Leny Yoro, who looks set to miss the return leg of the tie.
The first leg of the Europa League tie, played last week at Old Trafford, ended in a 1-1 draw. United had taken the lead through a well-taken goal from Joshua Zirkzee, only for Sociedad to level with a penalty from Mikel Oyarzabal. With the tie finely balanced, Manchester United will need to put in a strong performance in the second leg at the Anoeta Stadium in Spain to advance to the quarter-finals.
While the first leg saw a disappointing result for United, manager Erik ten Hag will be pleased to see some of his key players back in action ahead of the decisive return leg. Both Ugarte and Mount were part of the training session at Carrington on Wednesday, boosting United’s midfield options for the upcoming clash.
Ugarte has missed the Red Devils’ last two matches due to injury, leaving a gap in the midfield that has been keenly felt. The 21-year-old Uruguayan has been a standout performer for United this season and his return to fitness is a welcome boost for ten Hag. Ugarte’s work rate, defensive awareness, and ability to dictate the tempo of the game have made him a key figure in United’s squad, and his presence will certainly be crucial for the team's chances in the Europa League.
Similarly, Mount has been sidelined for a lengthy period. The England international has not featured for Manchester United since December 15, when he played in a 2-1 loss to Manchester City. Mount has been struggling with an injury for several weeks, and his return to full fitness will give ten Hag an added option in midfield, especially for the high-intensity encounters United faces in the coming weeks.
However, it wasn’t all good news from the Carrington training ground on Wednesday. Defender Leny Yoro, who had to come off during Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal, was notably absent from the training session. The 19-year-old Frenchman was forced to leave the pitch with an injury against Arsenal, and it now looks likely that he will miss the second leg against Real Sociedad. Yoro has been a regular in United’s defensive lineup this season, and his absence will leave a gap in the defense as the team looks to secure a strong result away from home.
Alongside Yoro, another central defender, Harry Maguire, was also not involved in training. Maguire, who has found himself out of favor with ten Hag this season, continues to struggle for consistent minutes in the starting lineup, and his absence from training suggests that he will not be available for selection against Sociedad.
Despite these injury concerns, United will be buoyed by the fact that some key players are nearing a return to full fitness. However, several important first-team players are still unavailable for the match against Sociedad. Goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, defenders Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez, and Jonny Evans, as well as midfielders Kobbie Mainoo and Amad Diallo, are all still sidelined due to injury. The absence of these players will certainly add pressure to the available squad, but the depth of talent that remains at ten Hag’s disposal means United still have plenty of quality to take on the Spanish side.
Finally, there is some good news regarding Patrick Dorgu. The Danish defender, who has been a key figure in United's defense this season, is available for selection for the Europa League tie, as his suspension only applies to domestic matches. This will be a relief to ten Hag, who will need all available players to be at their best for the challenging task of facing Real Sociedad in Spain.
As Manchester United prepare for this critical encounter in the Europa League, the focus will be on maintaining discipline, intensity, and composure. With a fully fit Ugarte and Mount potentially available, combined with the availability of Dorgu, ten Hag will be hopeful that his side can take the fight to Sociedad and progress further in the competition.