Man Utd receive huge double injury boost as squad named for Athletic Bilbao trip

Manchester United have been handed a huge boost ahead of their first leg against Athletic Bilbao, with and both in contention to feature. The pair have been missing through injury in recent weeks but have been named in United's travelling squad.

De Ligt missed both legs of the quarter-final against Lyon, and last played for United in their defeat away to on April 1. Amad has been missing for even longer, with the winger's last action coming back in February.

The club had initially worried Ivorian winger Amad would miss the remainder of the season with an ankle injury. "I don’t want to say anything, but I hope to have Amad back before the end of the season," head coach Ruben Amorim said in March after suggesting he thought the former Atalanta star's campaign might be done.

Amorim has included a number of youngsters in his squad for the trip to Spain. Chido Obi and Sekou Kone have been named in the travelling group despite , with United's players set to train in the Basque Country on Friday before returning to domestic action.

Young full-back Harry Amass is included after completing his first full 90 in the during the recent loss to . Centre-back Tyler Fredricson will also travel after making his league debut in the same game, with teenagers Bendito Mantato and Jaydan Kamason also on the plane.

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United have a league game against Brentford in between the two legs of their semi-final, with Athletic travelling to Manchester next week. The winner of the two-legged semi will face either Hotspur or Bodo/Glimt in the final.

Athletic star Oihan Sancet, who scored in the quarter-final victory over Rangers, is unavailable for the first leg. "He's ruled out for tomorrow," manager Ernesto Valverde said. "We'll see what happens next. We'll go for what will work for us."

United skipper Bruno Fernandes was asked about the threat posed by Athletic and its similarities with the approach of their last league opponents - whose manager Andoni Iraola used to play for the Basque club. The Red Devils took a late point from that game, with Rasmus Hojlund equalising deep into stoppage-time.

“Both teams are very intense with very quick wingers who are very good in one-v-ones," Fernandes told . "We have time now to try and focus on what Athletic are going to do, but we have to focus on what we’re going to do.”

Manchester United squad in full: Andre Onana, Altay Bayindir, Tom Heaton; Harry Amass, Matthijs de Ligt, Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu, Jonny Evans, Tyler Fredricson, Jaydan Kamason, Victor Lindelof, , Noussair Mazraoui, , Leny Yoro; Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, , Sekou Kone, , , Manuel Ugarte; Amad, Bendito Mantato, Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund, Chido Obi.

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