English Premier League
Rojo, Valencia back but De Gea and Smalling miss training
English Premier League

Rojo, Valencia back but De Gea and Smalling miss training

Published Feb. 24, 2016 8:48 a.m. ET

David de Gea and Chris Smalling were among a string of first-team absentees as Manchester United trained ahead of their crunch Europa League tie with FC Midtjylland.

But Marcos Rojo and Antonio Valencia look set to be involved, having trained on the eve of the match following long injury lay-offs.

Louis van Gaal's men welcome the Danish champions to Old Trafford on Thursday looking to overturn an embarrassing 2-1 defeat in the first leg of this last-32 tie.

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Argentina defender Rojo last featured against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on November 25, before having to undergo surgery on a dislocated shoulder.

Valencia has not played since the goalless draw with Manchester City on October 25 due to an ankle injury.

The duo's return will boost ailing United, who look set to be without De Gea and Smalling after they missed training at the Aon Training Complex.

Van Gaal had hoped to have the Spain goalkeeper back after he sustained a knee complaint during the warm-up in Denmark, but the reason for Smalling's absence on Wednesday was unclear.

Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Will Keane were absent after limping off against Shrewsbury, but Jesse Lingard trained despite his knock in Monday's FA Cup tie.

Wayne Rooney, Marouane Fellaini and Matteo Darmian are others sidelined, so too Ashley Young, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Phil Jones and Luke Shaw.

Donald Love, Joe Riley and Regan Poole were involved in training, along with Marcus Rashford and Joel Castro Pereira.

Adnan Januzaj was another involved, but is cup-tied after starting the season on loan at Borussia Dortmund.

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