Manchester United stars meet Game of Thrones actors before they are put through their paces by Jose Mourinho

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Manchester United may be in the middle of an important pre-season training camp but even they could not help but get swept up in the Game of Thrones hype that is gripping the globe.

The popular television series will return to British screens for a seventh series on Monday evening and, to celebrate, the Manchester United team welcomed two of its more modest stars to their training base at UCLA.

John Bradley-West, who plays the cult hero Samwell Tarly, tagged along with Joe Dempsie, whose character Gendry is set to return to the fold after a four-year absence.

John Bradley-West (centre-left) and Joe Dempsie (centre-right) met the Manchester United team during their training camp at UCLA in Los Angeles

The Game of Thrones actors were also given the chance to hold the Europa League trophy

Samwell Tarly and Gendry are set to play key roles heading into Game of Thrones series 7

The pair were seen talking with manager Jose Mourinho and Paul Pogba while they were also given the chance to hold the Europa League trophy, which Manchester United claimed last season.

United fans will have been pleased to see Bradley-West sporting an away shirt, declaring his allegiances to the Old Trafford outfit and adding to their long list of celebrity supporters.

Jose Mourinho greets the famous pair ahead of the world premiere of Game of Thrones series 7

Paul Pogba towers over both Bradley-West and Dempsie during a brief conversation

Mourinho shares a joke with comedian Patrick Kielty ahead of a training session

The Manchester United squad soon got down to business with a light training session 

Comedian Patrick Kielty – another member of that list – also stopped by for an impromptu appearance and it seems he and Mourinho  shared a joke. The pair were photographed laughing and a hugging ahead of a light training session.

Soon after, Mourinho was back dictating the drills for his Manchester United players ahead of their second pre-season friendly against Real Salt Lake City, which takes place on Tuesday.

Mourinho will be looking for improvements from his players following their 5-2 win over LA Galaxy, which was slightly marred by the concession of two late goals as well as a horror miss from new signing Romelu Lukaku.

Following the game against the MLS outfit, United will turn their sights to bigger targets with friendly fixtures against Manchester City and European champions Real Madrid set for later this week.

Juan Mata and Marcus Rashford complete a routine passing drill as part of a training session

Pogba and new team-mate Romelu Lukaku look relaxed as training continues in Los Angeles

Anthony Martial smiles for the camera as he completes the training session with United