Manchester United team news vs Bournemouth: Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez and Anthony Martial to return
The attacking trio were all involved in first team training on Friday and could feature against Bournemouth on Sunday
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Your support makes all the difference.Manchester United could welcome back Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez and Anthony Martial for Sunday’s Premier League match against Bournemouth.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said Lukaku and Sanchez could feature for the first time in his interim reign as he looks to win his third consecutive match since taking charge from Jose Mourinho.
Lukaku has been absent from Solskjaer’s two matches in charge with personal issues but took part in light sessions with Sanchez and Martial on Thursday, as well as training with the first team on Friday.
Sanchez has not played for United since the end of November and could recover from a hamstring injury in time for Sunday’s match at Old Trafford. The Chilean forward has been training on his own throughout December as he looks to return to fitness after a difficult start to the season.
Illness forced Martial to miss the home win against Huddersfield on Boxing Day but his return to light training at the club should deem him well enough to face Bournemouth.
Elsewhere, Chris Smalling remains out with a foot injury that is likely to keep him away from action until United play Tottenham on 13 January 2019, while Marcos Rojo and Scott McTominay are both continuing their comebacks and are not likely to feature on Sunday.
“We’ve not had a lot of training,” said Solskjaer. “So we had yesterday [Thursday] off, today’s the first day back. Romelu, Anthony and Alexis were light, light yesterday so hopefully they can join part of the training today and let’s see how they come through.
“Marcos and Scott look like they can take part very soon, so the situation is looking better. Smalling’s got a sore foot so I don’t think we’ll see him until the New Year, maybe not even before Spurs, probably, around about that time. But you never know.”
Bournemouth will be without club captain Simon Francis for nine months after he sustained a serious knee injury during their Boxing Day defeat against Tottenham.
Adam Smith and Lewis Cook are both in rehabilitation for serious knee injuries, while Dan Gosling has missed most of the festive fixtures with a knee problem.
“Simon’s injury is a huge blow for us and for himself,” Howe said. “He’s been our leader on the pitch, role model, he’ll be a big miss for the dressing room. (He is) a great professional.”
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