“Yeah, it's a little bit stronger,” the Man Utd head coach said of the matchday squad he could name for Sunday’s showdown at Elland Road. “Hopefully, we've got Nous back involved with us.
“He's done a little bit of training, so he'll be back around the group, which is a good step in the right direction for us.”
Fitness boost: Noussair Mazraoui
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De Ligt, meanwhile, is a possible option to replace Lisandro Martinez in central defence following the Argentina international’s extraordinary attack on the club’s board - though he has since apologised for his comments and will be in the squad to face Leeds.
However, De Ligt has not featured for United in almost a year and Carrick has suggested he will ease the Dutchman back in slowly.
“Every training session and every day and every kind of week that goes by, being back around the group, being on the bench again, Carrick added.
“[He was] back on the bench the other night, I think it was a good step for him and just a little bit of patience, a little bit of working our way through it and getting him up to speed.
I think it was a good step for him and just a little bit of patience, a little bit of working our way through it and getting him up to speed
Michael Carrick
“It’s great to have him around. He's obviously a lot happier when being back around the group.
“He's had a tough few months that he's had to work through, and credit to him for that, for being in the place that he is now.
“So yeah, we’re delighted to have him back involved.”