Romelu Lukaku looks likely to miss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first home match as caretaker manager as Manchester United face Huddersfield on Boxing Day.
The Belgium international was given time off due to a private matter and missed the trip to Cardiff, where fellow forward Alexis Sanchez was absent through injury.
Defenders Chris Smalling, Marcos Rojo and Matteo Darmian were also missing in the Welsh capital, as were full-back Antonio Valencia and midfielder Scott McTominay.
Few expect the air of positivity at United to dissipate on Boxing Day, when Solskjaer will be welcomed by the '20LEGEND' banner that has been put back up at Old Trafford.
"They're the best fans in the world," he added. "Of course, I have my history at the club and to see that banner is special.
"I just hope in the next five months I'll do a good enough job for them to keep singing my name."
Provisional squad: De Gea, Romero, Grant, Young, Darmian, Valencia, Smalling, Shaw, Dalot, Bailly, Jones, Rojo, Fred, Garner, Gomes, Matic, Pereira, Herrera, McTominay, Pogba, Lingard, Fellaini, Mata, Rashford, Martial.
