Manchester United make 4am return from Moscow after Champions League thrashing of CSKA as Jose Mourinho turns focus to Crystal Palace visit

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Bleary-eyed but no doubt satisfied following an emphatic victory, Manchester United returned from their Moscow mission at 4am on Thursday morning.

Manager Jose Mourinho, still clutching his red neck cushion, his staff and players were met by autograph and selfie hunters at Manchester Airport after the four-hour flight back from Russia.

One young fan looked to have secured a very good haul of signatures, while some of the players stopped to sign replica shirts. Others were jetting off to other destinations and chanced upon their heroes.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho clutches his red neck cushion as his squad arrived back from Moscow at 4am following their 4-1 Champions League win over CSKA

Romelu Lukaku, who scored twice in Russia, poses for a selfie with a fan at Manchester Airport

Lukaku now has 10 goals in just nine appearances since moving to United from Everton

It may have been one of the more long-haul Champions League trips but United could certainly be satisfied with the outcome.

Two goals by Romelu Lukaku, a penalty by Anthony Martial and another strike by the man of the match Henrikh Mkhitaryan earned a dominant 4-1 win over CSKA Moscow at the VEB Arena.

It puts United in control of their Champions League group with two wins from two and continues their unbeaten start to a campaign that promises so much.

Lukaku now has 10 goals in just nine appearances since his summer move from Everton, bettering even the start Sir Bobby Charlton made at United in the 1950s.

United goalkeeper David de Gea makes his way through arrivals at Manchester Airport

Marcus Rashford is pursued by an autograph hunter as United returned home from Russia

United now turn their attention back to league matters with a home match against pointless and rock bottom Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon.

United have won five of their six league fixtures so far and sit second to neighbours Manchester City only by virtue of goal difference.

However, Mourinho couldn't resist a complaint to the fixture schedulers given the long trip to Moscow and the relatively quick turnaround to Saturday's 3pm kick-off.

By contrast Liverpool, who played Spartak Moscow on Tuesday night, don't play their next Premier League fixture until Sunday.

'For the team confidence (it) is good because six points in two matches in the Champions League puts us in a good position and for the players individually it is also good because we had very good performances,' Mourinho said.

Eric Bailly is asked to sign Manchester United shirts as he arrives back at the airport

Anthony Martial, another goalscorer in Moscow, gives the thumbs up to fans at the airport

Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who scored United's fourth goal, wheels his suitcase through arrivals

'(Chris) Smalling and (Victor) Lindelof had very good performances, (Ander) Herrera has not started a match in a long time and had a good performance, so did Anthony Martial - and I am speaking about the players who are not starting matches.

'The Premier League is another story. We play Saturday three o'clock against a fresh team and we have to play after this match.

'We have to keep our feet on the ground, stay humble and follow our direction because we are having a very good start to the season.

Romelu Lukaku scored twice as United made light work of CSKA Moscow in the Russian capital

The Belgian striker took his tally to 10 goals in nine matches since arriving from Everton 

Anthony Martial doubled United's lead from the penalty spot after only 18 minutes

Henrikh Mkhitaryan rounded off a comfortable night with United's fourth after the break

Mourinho congratulates Lukaku after his two goals guided United to victory in Moscow

'We have started competitions strong in August and September and have now just one more game, a difficult one.'

United travel to Anfield in their first fixture after the international break in what many are regarding as their first true test of the season.