Manchester United have received a timely lift heading into their Premier League trip to Craven Cottage, with three key players returning to the matchday squad after spells on the sidelines.
Luke Shaw, Carlos Baleba and Matthijs de Ligt have all been named among the travelling party for the fixture against Fulham, offering the club a welcome boost as they look to build much-needed momentum in the league.
Shaw, who was an ever-present figure in United's Premier League campaign last season, has missed the club's last three matches through a thigh injury. He sat out the Champions League clash with Sabah, the derby defeat to Manchester City, and the Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Brighton. In his absence, both Patrick Dorgu and Noussair Mazraoui were used at left-back to cover the gap, but Shaw's return gives United's coaching staff a recognised specialist option once again in that position.
Baleba, meanwhile, could be poised to make his long-awaited debut for the club. The midfielder joined United from Brighton during the summer transfer window but arrived at Old Trafford carrying an existing ankle problem. The issue was not deemed serious enough to prevent him passing his medical, yet it has kept him out of contention since his arrival. His inclusion in the squad for the trip to west London raises the possibility that he could finally get his first minutes in a United shirt.
De Ligt's return is arguably the most significant of the three, given the length of his absence. The Dutch centre-back has not featured since November of last year because of a persistent back injury. His name appearing in the squad list suggests he is now closing in on his first appearance of the calendar year, which would represent a major addition to United's defensive options.
Despite the encouraging news on those fronts, there was a notable absence from the group travelling to Craven Cottage. Striker Benjamin Sesko was left out of the squad because of an unspecified injury concern, meaning Matheus Cunha is likely to continue leading the line for United in his absence.
The timing of these fitness developments is important for United, who arrive at Fulham sitting 13th in the Premier League table having won just one of their opening league fixtures this season, a victory over Ipswich. The club will be eager to use the returning personnel to kickstart a run of form as they push to climb away from the lower reaches of the standings.
With Shaw expected to slot straight back into the starting line-up and De Ligt potentially in line for a place among the substitutes or even a start, United's options at the back look considerably healthier than they have in recent weeks. Baleba's potential involvement in midfield would also add depth and freshness to a squad that has had to manage a congested run of fixtures across multiple competitions.
Attention now turns to how many of the trio actually feature on the pitch at Craven Cottage, with Shaw considered the most likely to return to first-team action immediately given his fitness history and importance to the side's shape. Baleba's potential debut will be closely watched, as will any minutes handed to De Ligt after such a long layoff.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport.