United will be without midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger for the Everton game, as he is likely to miss the rest of the season after tearing knee ligaments while training with Germany during the recent international break.
United captain Wayne Rooney is not ready to return against his former club, having been absent since mid-February with knee ligament damage.
But the England striker has resumed light ball work in training and is likely to play for the club’s Under-21 side soon –- either against Chelsea on Monday or Middlesbrough seven days later.
Everton are facing increasing uncertainty over the long-term future of Romelu Lukaku, which manager Roberto Martinez is doing his best to play down as he attempts to lift the club from the lowly position of 12th in the table.
The Belgium forward said during the recent international break that “it would be nice” to play in the Champions League next season, while his agent Mino Raiola has suggested that Juventus, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are all interested.
Everton have next to no chance of qualifying for the competition themselves, lying 13 points adrift of the top four with nine games to play, yet Martinez is adamant that he is not disturbed by the ambition of his 25-goal leading scorer.
“It’s not unsettling at all,” Martinez said. “That should be the aspiration of everyone to be as good as you can.
“Everton want to be in the Champions League. We want to be competing to win titles. We reached the semifinals of the League Cup this season. We are in the semifinals of the FA Cup. We need players who can carry the expectations of the club.”
Everton’s ambitions have been thwarted by dreadful home form, but they have suffered only one Premier League defeat on their travels this season –- at Arsenal in October –- and no other side can match that record.
Centre-back John Stones will be fit to play some part on Sunday, having recovered from a minor knock suffered while playing for England on Tuesday.
Meanwhile utility player Bryan Oviedo is fit following a recent chest infection and forward Kevin Mirallas is available after serving a suspension.
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