Achieving a strong start to the week

Just before Manchester United’s match against Bayern Munich, Casemiro is back in training.

After being substituted off in Newcastle United’s November 1 EFL Cup loss, Casemiro did not participate in any competitive games.

As he was returning from an ankle ailment he sustained during October’s international break, the Brazilian was substituted out of the match in the first half owing to a hamstring problem.

He has thus been ineligible to play in Manchester United’s past eight matches, including last Saturday’s disheartening 3-0 loss to Bournemouth.

The Brazil international is not expected to return until the new year, according to Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag.Pictures of Casemiro in training posted by the club’s social media accounts, however, suggest that he is making good rehabilitation progress.

As part of his recuperation, Manchester United have announced that Casemiro is now working on grass at the Carrington working complex.

While his colleagues recovered from Saturday’s defeat to the Cherries, the Brazil international worked on his own programme.

The news of Casemiro’s return to training is encouraging, but he probably won’t be able to show up fit for Tuesday’s Champions League match.As we enter the last round of matchups, the Red Devils are atop their group with just four points from five European games.

Ten Hag’s squad needs a win, a draw, or a loss in their remaining group encounter if they are to advance to the Champions League quarterfinals; they are currently tied with Galatasaray and Copenhagen for first place with one point each.

Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen, and Amad Diallo will not be available to Ten Hag, and Victor Lindelof and Mason Mount’s availability is uncertain.

Bayern will play missing Serge Gnabry, who was substituted out in Saturday’s 5-1 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt, while Manchester United deal with ιnjury problems.