Rooney to return for Europa League tie against Anderlecht

Manchester United talisman Wayne Rooney will return for today’s game against Anderlecht in the Europa League following time out with ankle injury.

Rumours about the 31-year-old leaving United at the end of the season have intensified recently, with suggested big-money destinations for Rooney being China, the MLS and former club Everton.

Speaking before United’s training session on Wednesday, Mourinho said: “He is working now; he is improving. And if in this training session the answer is positive, I would select him to be on the bench tomorrow.

“He is experienced. He has know-how of this knock-out phase. He is a player that can be useful and if we need a goal he can help us. If we need to keep the result, to keep the ball, to keep control of the game by having possession, he can help us too.

“So hopefully his answer in the training session is positive.”

Meanwhile, United will be without the services of Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Juan Mata.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is expected to start following a substitute appearance against Premier League leaders Chelsea on Sunday. Ibrahimovic, who is United’s top goal-scorer this season, is yet to decide whether to trigger his one-year extension to stay at the club, but Mourinho is not concerned about that.

He said: “I don’t think about whether it would be a perfect ending for him, I just think about Manchester United.”