Man Utd confirm key player set to miss Sheff Utd match but two injured stars return to training

Manchester United have confirmed that Casemiro is unavailable for Saturday's Premier League encounter against Sheffield United.

It was confirmed by the club last week that the ex-Real Madrid star had picked up a knock while on international duty, but he played the full 90 minutes as Brazil lost to Uruguay in midweek.

It was presumed, therefore, that Casemiro would be available for the trip to Bramall Lane, but United announced on Thursday afternoon that he won't be an option for Erik ten Hag.

"Casemiro was absent [from training on Thursday] having remained in Brazil, on the club’s advice, to recover as swiftly as possible from a small issue picked up while playing for his country," the Red Devils said via their official website.

United added that Casemiro is set to return to England 'early next week' and will resume training ahead of the Champions League encounter against Copenhagen, although the 31-year-old is suspended for the game following his red card last time out against Galatasaray.

After playing a starring role last term at Old Trafford, Casemiro has struggled to perform at the same level this season, and he was replaced at half-time in United's final game before the international break: a 2-1 win over Brentford.

Elsewhere, with the club have confirmed that Sergio Reguilon and Sofyan Amrabat have trained this week. The latter didn't feature in either of Morocco's matches over the international break, leading to suggestions he is injured, while Reguilon hasn't played since the 1-0 win over Burnley on 23 September, due to injury.

His return will be a significant boost for Ten Hag given fellow left-backs Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are injured at present. Assuming both are fit to start, Reguilon and Amrabat are likely to be named in United's XI on Saturday, with the Red Devils aiming to build on that injury-time comeback against Brentford.

Ten Hag is expected to give a full fitness update in Friday's press conference, with the availability of Jonny Evans, Kobbie Mainoo and Amad unclear, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Lisandro Martinez and Jadon Sancho are absent, along with Shaw and Malacia.