Manchester United have been handed a huge injury boost ahead of Friday’s clash at Chelsea and next week’s Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur.
Ruben Amorim’s side have endured a miserable Premier League campaign with United sitting 16th ahead of their league visit to Stamford Bridge on Friday night (8:15pm kick-off).
Chelsea will be confident of securing all three points against a team who will have one eye on their season-defining European final against Spurs on Wednesday, May 21.
Both Tottenham and United know that victory in Bilbao next week will secure a lucrative place in next season’s Champions League. The Lilywhites are seeking their first major trophy since 2008 while the Red Devils are chashing a second Europa League title, having previously won it under ex-Chelsea and Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho.
And in a boost to Amorim’s men, it has been confirmed by the Manchester Evening News’ Samuel Luckhurst that key centre-back Ayden Heaven is back in United’s squad for their trip to the Blues on Friday evening.
The 19-year-old sustained an injury during United’s 3-0 win at Leicester City before March’s international break and was seen exiting the King Power Stadium sporting a protective boot.
Heaven made his first Premier League start in that victory over Ruud van Nistelrooy’s team, but has remained sidelined through injury since.
After missing United’s first three games after the March international break, Heaven returned to the squad against Newcastle United on April 13, being named as a substitute against Eddie Howe’s side. However, he has not featured in any of their matchday squads since that date after suffering a “small setback”, according to club sources.
Heaven’s absence has been a blow for Amorim, who has been impressed by the youngster. Speaking back in March, Amorim said of Heaven: “If he continues like that he is going to play.
“Of course he is young and he didn’t play much this season, maybe only 45 minutes for the Under-21s, then a few minutes here and now a full game.
“I really like his confidence. “I like his pace, I think he is good in defending the box and I think he is quite complete.
“But he has a lot of work to do in the Premier League. “We will face a different kind of player and he will be tested in a different kind of way, so we are trying to manage all of this because he is still really young.”
But his return to the United squad against Chelsea is timely for Amorim with several defenders still working their way back from injury. United’s head coach is sweating over the fitness of Diogo Dalot, Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro ahead of next Wednesday’s game in Spain, with no indication of whether they will be fit to feature against Spurs.
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