Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has said there is a chance Wayne Rooney will return to the first-team for Thursday night’s Europa League clash with Anderlecht.

United were denied by a late equaliser as they drew 1-1 with Anderlecht in Brussels, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan scoring a vital away goal midway through the first-half.

Rooney missed that match with an ankle injury and hasn’t played for United since their 0-0 Premier League draw with West Brom, at the start of the month.

Manchester United injury and suspension list Show all 8 1 /8 Manchester United injury and suspension list Manchester United injury and suspension list Phil Jones (toe) Defender suffered a broken toe after a challenge from United teammate Chris Smalling during England training, and is not yet ready to return. Getty Manchester United injury and suspension list Chris Smalling (knee) Limped out of England training a few days after Jones and is unlikely to recover in time. Getty Manchester United injury and suspension list Marcos Rojo (knee) Suffered a serious knee injury and will miss the rest of the season. Getty Manchester United injury and suspension list Zlatan Ibrahimovic (knee) Ruptured his cruciate ligament in the win over Anderlecht and will miss up to nine months, ruling him out for the rest of 2017. Getty Manchester United injury and suspension list Juan Mata (groin) Underwent surgery on his groin in March but Mourinho is hopeful he will return before the end of the season. Getty Manchester United injury and suspension list Paul Pogba (muscle) Will miss the Manchester derby with a muscular injury after suffering fatigue from playing two games in two days. Getty Manchester United injury and suspension list James Wilson (ACL) The striker suffered an ACL injury that will keep him out of the entire season. Getty Manchester United injury and suspension list Ander Herrera (ankle) Picked up an ankle knock in the win over Burnley but expected to be fit for the Manchester derby. Getty

However in his pre-match press conference Mourinho told reporters that Rooney had a chance of making the substitutes’ bench for the second-leg of their Europa League tie.

“He's working now, he's improving and if in this training session [this afternoon] the answer is positive, I would select him to be on the bench tomorrow,” Mourinho commented.

“He's experienced and has know-how of this knockout phase – I think he's a player that can be useful tomorrow.

“If we need a goal, he can help us. If we need to keep a 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.”

Mourinho speaking at his weekly press conference (Getty)

While Rooney is set to make a return, Mourinho confirmed that United’s other absentees remain side-lined.

Juan Mata is likely to miss the rest of the season with a groin injury, while Chris Smalling and Phil Jones are also unable to feature, with knee and toe injuries respectively.

Mata is likely to be out for the rest of the season (Getty)

“No injuries from the game [against Chelsea] but also nobody recovered so no Mata, Jones, Smalling. They are out and still out,” added Mourinho. “And Wayne is the only one that is possible, if it's possible.

“I cannot confirm now but the paparazzi that live in the Lowry Hotel, they can take the picture when we go to the hotel at six o'clock and see if Wayne is selected.