Manchester United defender Eric Bailly missed the club's end of season awards dinner on Tuesday due to a dental problem, a source has told ESPN FC, but the Ivory Coast international is expected to be fit to travel in the squad for Friday's trip to Brighton.

Having been dropped from the team in recent weeks by Jose Mourinho, mystery has surrounded Bailly's absence from the Old Trafford awards night, prompting speculation of a falling out between the player and manager.

But while Bailly is facing a battle to win back his first-team place following Mourinho's decision to favour Swedish centre-half Victor Lindelof recently, the former Villarreal player was given permission to miss the awards night due to the dental issue he was suffering from at the beginning of the week.

Sources have told ESPN FC that Bailly missed the 1-0 defeat at home to West Bromwich Albion on April 15 after suffering a head injury in training ahead of the game, but was fit to resume training the day after the surprise loss to the Premier League's bottom club.

Mourinho has since overlooked the 24-year-old, instead favouring Lindelof, but Bailly is fully fit and ready to play against Brighton if selected.

And while sources have told ESPN FC that Chelsea and Arsenal are both monitoring Bailly's situation at United, the player remains determined to win back his place and remain at Old Trafford.