Manchester United stars emerge through the fog as they arrive for training at Carrington on Monday ahead of hectic festive fixture run

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From the gloom, one by one the expensive sports cars and glitzy 4x4s emerged, carrying their household names to training.

Manchester United's players arrived at their Carrington base on Monday amid thick fog covering the north-west city.

Despite training taking place in the late morning, all car headlights were set to full beam in order to navigate through the wintry cloak. 

Manchester United's players arrived at their Carrington base on Monday amid thick fog

One by one the expensive sports cars and glitzy 4x4s emerged from the north-west gloom

United manager Jose Mourinho arrives for training on Monday in the back of a Jaguar

Jose Mourinho as usual was chauffeured into work, on this occasion in a Jaguar, and wore his regular, serious expression.

The United boss turns his attention briefly away from the chase of rivals City at the top of the Premier League this week, with cup matters taking over. 

United visit Championship high flyers Bristol City in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, with Mourinho eyeing the tournament as a chance of silverware, having won it as his first major trophy at Old Trafford last season. 

Afterwards, United begin a hectic run of fixtures over the Christmas and New Year period - six games in two and a half weeks.

Michael Carrick has his headlights on full beam in order to see through the wintry conditions

Marouane Fellaini arrives for work on Monday, one of several players to drive a Mercedes

United turn their attention to their Carabao Cup defence this week as they play Bristol City

After Bristol, they travel to Leicester in the league before hosting Burnley on Boxing Day. They then play Southampton at Old Trafford, visit Everton on New Year's Day before taking on Derby County in the FA Cup on January 5. 

The parade into the United training ground was primarily a tribute to German engineering, with the majority of players driving an Audi or Mercedes.

Among those was Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who had a lot to think about behind the wheel of his white Mercedes SUV.

Mkhitaryan is out of favour at United after a drop off in form this season, with speculation his inconsistent spell at Old Trafford could be ended with a move to Inter Milan in the January transfer window. 

The Armenian will hope for a chance to win back Mourinho's favour in the cup clash with Bristol, before United resume league duties against Leicester on December 23.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan arrives for training amid speculation over his future at United

The Armenian has been linked with a January move to Inter Milan amid recent poor form