Jesse Lingard has returned to full training for Manchester United.
The season is still in its infancy but injuries have already begun to take their toll, with every team in the Premier League feeling the impact as games are being played in a much shorter time frame than usual.
United haven't escaped that fate and currently have up to six players unavailable for this weekend's encounter with high-flying Southampton, though they have been boosted by the return of Lingard.
The versatile forward has been unavailable since early October as an unspecified injury kept him sidelined for a number of weeks. He had returned to fitness prior to the international break but then had to go into isolation after coming into contact with someone who had tested positive for COVID-19.
That means Lingard missed the weekend's narrow victory over West Brom and the 4-1 mauling of Istanbul Basaksehir but he returned to training on Thursday and may be available for selection against Saints.
Whether or not Ole Gunnar Solskjaer selects Lingard for the matchday squad, however, is another matter. The 27-year-old has played a peripheral role this season, with his two appearances coming in the Carabao Cup.
He has yet to play in the league or Champions League and has only appeared as a substitute on two occasions.
Lingard's return to fitness will be a welcome boost regardless, though, as Solskjaer continues to wrestle with an ever growing injury list. Paul Pogba, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Victor Lindelof are all doubts for Sunday's game while Luke Shaw and Eric Bailly are definitely out.
