Manchester United prepare for the Europa League quarter-final clash with Real Sociedad in Carrington on Wednesday, with midfielders Ugarte and Mason Mount back in training, but only the Uruguay international will be available for the game. Meanwhile, French centre-back Leni Yoro will be sidelined with injury.

Mount has been out for three months with an injury, having last featured in the Manchester derby in Manchester United's 2-1 win over Manchester City on 15 December, when he was forced off in the first half. He has been plagued by injuries since his $60 million transfer in July 2023. Amorim confirmed in his pre-match press conference that it was too early for Mount to return, with he unavailable for both games this week.

Ugarte, meanwhile, is already back in action. He missed last week's first leg against Real Sociedad and Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw with Arsenal. Defenders Yoro and Harry Maguire are both absent, with Joro being substituted at half-time on Sunday, while Harry Maguire has missed United's last two games and is expected to return for the Premier League tie with his former club Leicester City at the weekend.

Young centre-forward Cheedo Obi also took part in open training but was not included in United's Europa League registration list and Amorim will continue to have only three strikers available, Garnacho, Hojlund and Zirkze.

As a result, United's injury list for this crucial game includes: Altay Bayndir, Tom Heaton, Evans, Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire, Yoro, Luke Shaw, Kobe Maynor, Mason Mount and Amad Diallo and Obi.

If United fail to reach the quarter-finals of the Europa League, the season will end early. Having gone out of both the FA Cup and the League Cup, finishing 14th in the Premier League and winning the Europa League, the Reds have the only hope of turning what has been a miserable season for the Reds.

"In that sense, it's really important." Amorim admitted: "It gives us more energy to continue this season and the team knows that. It won't have a big impact on the idea of next season, but it will give us more energy to finish the season differently. So, tomorrow is another very crucial game."

Despite their poor domestic performances, Manchester United are the only unbeaten team in European competition this season. Although the start was not good, the first three games of the Europa League were drawn in a row, but the remaining five group games were all won. Manchester United drew 1-1 away at Real Sociedad last week and now have the advantage of playing at home.

Amorim has also inspired the United star to prove himself to owner Jim Ratcliffe, with the 72-year-old former richest man in England publicly questioning the over-value or under-worth of some players this week, naming Andre Onana, Casemiro, Hojlund, Antony, Jadon Sancho and others.

Amorim responded: "I think if you are honest, everybody, including me, all the players, have not been doing well this season. But we can change that at any time, and I'm one of them. For example, a player like Casemiro wins everything and we know that a player like him can play better. That's the point. He's honest about it, and the point is to change the boss's mind, to change everyone's mind. As a member of Manchester United, even me, a lot of people will say I'm not good enough for the club and my feeling is that you have to change that through results. In training, I feel that they are very hungry to get good results, especially tomorrow."

Rajab joked, "I told Ruben [Amorim] what was wrong, and he told me to get out!" Amorim said that the relationship between the two is very good: "We are very frank, he has a personality, he is very similar to me. I've always felt the support of the board, especially Rajue. I can't reveal what the conversation was, but it was all simple, clear and honest conversations. The players didn't complain [Larjue's comment] and I enjoyed the training today."

Manchester United vs Real Sociedad squad: Andre Onana, Eli Harrison, Dermot M; Diogu Darlow, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Lindelof, Eden Haven, Taylor Frederickson, Patrick Dolgu, Harry Amas; Casemiro, Ugarte, Eriksen, Toby Collier, James Scanlon, Jack Fletcher, Bruno Fernandez; Hojlund, Zirkze, Garnacho.