Matheus Cunha resumes Manchester United training before Liverpool clash
Manchester United forward Matheus Cunha has returned to group training ahead of Sunday’s crucial Premier League encounter against Liverpool at Old Trafford.
The Brazilian attacker was sidelined for the recent 2-1 victory over Brentford after sustaining a minor hip flexor issue.
That setback temporarily halted an impressive run of form for the player, who netted the decisive goal during his previous appearance against Chelsea.
Head coach Michael Carrick had consistently expressed optimism that the ailment would not result in a prolonged absence.
“(Cunha) just had a bit of a sore hip flexor after the Chelsea game the other day,” Carrick explained to reporters.
“He was looking promising during the week, so we thought he might have been OK, but he just didn’t quite recover quick enough.”
Selection dilemmas for Carrick
The dynamic number 10 participated fully in Thursday’s session, raising hopes of an immediate recall to the starting lineup.
If he regains his place, attacking counterparts Bryan Mbeumo or Amad Diallo could find themselves relegated to the bench following Benjamin Sesko’s goalscoring contribution on Monday.
The manager is scheduled to announce his final team selection on Sunday afternoon shortly before the highly anticipated kick-off.
Champions League qualification beckons
A victory this weekend would see the Red Devils secure a prestigious league double over their fiercest historical rivals.
They previously triumphed 2-1 in the reverse fixture at Anfield, where a late Harry Maguire header sealed a dramatic three points after Cody Gakpo had equalised.
Depending on results elsewhere involving Brighton and Bournemouth, defeating the Merseyside outfit will mathematically confirm a top-five finish and a return to Europe’s elite competition.
