Ashley Young is in contention to return for Manchester United for the first time since May in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Young arrived at the Lowry Hotel with the United squad on Monday night ahead of the game against Basel, four months after he suffered a groin injury against Celta Vigo in the Europa League semi-final second leg, report the Manchester Evening News.

Luke Shaw trained with the United first-team on Monday afternoon but was not among the squad which checked in at their pre-match base.

Eric Bailly and Phil Jones serve the last match of their European suspensions against Basel, while Scott McTominay was also not spotted in the pre-match party.

Victor Lindelof is expected to come into the centre of defence in Bailly and Jones' absence.

Axel Tuanzebe did not play for the Reserves on Friday or train with the first-team on Monday, so could be injured.

Young is back in contention for United (
Image:
Eamonn and James Clarke)
Lindelof arrived at the Lowry Hotel with his hood up (
Image:
Eamonn and James Clarke)

Marouane Fellaini was deemed fit to train after overcoming a calf injury which prevented him from figuring in the Premier League draw at Stoke.

"Let's see if he can train today," Jose Mourinho said earlier on Monday. "He's a very important player for me, much more important than you can imagine. He had a [calf] problem with his national team and then he played a match against Greece, and after the match he felt the problem.

"If his condition improves he will be selected, because I need him."

"Being back in the Champions League is going back to the natural habitat," Mourinho added. "For Manchester United it's season after season.

"For some players there's the motivation of playing in it for the first time, so we look forward to the match and I hope also Old Trafford feels it in the same way we are feeling.

Mkhitaryan arrived alongside the team (
Image:
Eamonn and James Clarke)
Fellaini appeared in high spirits as he rocked up (
Image:
Eamonn and James Clarke)

"We have to try to qualify and we have to try to go to the last 16 and enjoy that special knock-out phase with the best teams in Europe.

"To be humble is to admit the opponent has the same ambition as we have and that the opponent can perfectly come here, like they did in the past, and give Manchester United a bad taste.

"But we are strong, we are playing well, we have good confidence in ourselves, and in spite of the match being difficult tomorrow, we will try to win."

When asked about the supposed advantage other elite European sides have, Mourinho added: "We have no winter break, and in other countries there is a winter break, but that's cultural - it means a lot, and I have to admit I love it.

"I know that goes against us but I have to admit I love the English Christmas period for football and the fact we have to play many times with two days before the big matches in Europe, while other countries protect their clubs."

Lukaku smiles as he makes his way into the hotel (
Image:
Eamonn and James Clarke)
Romero might get the call up in goal in the Champions League (
Image:
Eamonn and James Clarke)

David de Gea made just three Europa League appearances last term as Mourinho preferred to use Sergio Romero as his European goalkeeper but the Spaniard will start versus Basel.

"I always want to be the best," De Gea said. "I train hard to improve every day, in every training, so I work really hard to be the best keeper in the world. I don't know who is the best at the moment but this is what I want - to be the best.

"All three keepers at United - Sergio, Joel [Pereira] and me - train really hard to be the player who is on the pitch to play in the games. Now I feel really strong, really confident. Everyone trains hard to be in the XI and that's it.

"I think Basel are a strong team, a good team," he added. "It's another step to play at the highest level of the Champions League with the best teams in Europe. Of course, we are really motivated to play in the Champions League and to try to win every game, even though we know it will be difficult."

De Gea arrives at the Lowry Hotel (
Image:
Eamonn and James Clarke)
Fellow Spaniard Herrera is also in the squad (
Image:
Eamonn and James Clarke)

Confirmed squad members

De Gea

Romero

Pereira

Darmian

Smalling

Valencia

Lindelof

Blind

Fellaini

Matic

Carrick

Herrera

Pogba

Lingard

Young

Mata

Mkhitaryan

Rashford

Lukaku