Update: Nine players could miss Man United vs Lyon after Ruben Amorim injury update News

Manchester United will look to progress to the semi-finals of the Europa League against French opposition Lyon

Manchester United will need to be at their best on Thursday night as they face Lyon in the second leg of the Europa League quarter-final, with a place in the last four on the line.

The Reds had to settle for a 2-2 draw in France last week, with Lyon’s Rayan Cherki netting the equaliser in stoppage time. Andre Onana was at fault for both goals, initially failing to keep out a free-kick from Thiago Almada in the first half.

Head coach Ruben Amorim then told Onana to rest and disconnect, leaving him out of the squad for last weekend’s game against Newcastle United. However, the Portuguese manager has confirmed that Onana will return between the sticks.

“Onana will play tomorrow,” he said. “I just think first of all as a coach, and also as a former player. I try to do things that can help a player in this situation. So sometimes we talk about managing players physically, we have to manage them also mentally.

“But then, they have to return to competition and Onana is ready. He had one weekend that I felt it was better for him to not play, and a good thing for Altay [Bayindir], and this week, my thinking was to put Onana to play.”

As for matters off the pitch, United are still contending with some injuries heading into the final weeks of the season. Thursday’s game will come early for Matthijs de Ligt, Ayden Heaven, Jonny Evans, Amad and Toby Collyer.

“Matta [de Ligt] is going to return still this season,” Amorim added. “Ayden [Heaven] is out for this game, he had a small issue in the same spot during training, a contact with a teammate.

“Jonny Evans is returning to the training but is not available for this game and some other players that we have to manage the minutes. Amad is not ready for this month but we hope to have Amad still for this season.”

Joshua Zirkzee, meanwhile, has been the latest player to be added to the treatment room with a hamstring injury and will miss the remainder of the season. Lisandro Martinez remains a long-term absentee.

As for the visitors, Lyon will be without their left and right wingers (Malick Fofana and Ernest Nuamah) for the clash. Nuamah ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament during the 3-1 win over Auxerre last Sunday.

In terms of suspension, Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte are both on two yellow cards. Earning a third yellow card of the campaign against Lyon would see them suspended for the first leg of the semi-finals should United advance.

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