Ander Herrera has denied any wrongdoing after it emerged that he may stand trial over an alleged match-fixing scandal.

The 28-year-old Manchester United midfielder has been warned that he faces being ordered into the witness stand with 33 other footballers including Atletico Madrid midfielder Gabi over a 'suspect' May 2011 match between his former club Real Zaragoza and Levante.

Herrera issued a statement on Wednesday saying: ‘As I stated back in 2014 when this issue was raised, I have never had and never will have anything to do with to do with manipulating match results.

‘If I am ever called to testify in a judicial hearing, I will be delighted to attend as my conscience is totally clear. I love football and I believe in fair play, both on and off the pitch.’

Manchester United star Ander Herrera is set to be put on trial over alleged match fixing

The case refers to a match involving Herrera at his first club in Spain, Real Zaragoza

In May 2011, Zaragoza beat Levante to stay in La Liga, but this game is now under suspicion

Zaragoza's then manager Javier Aguirre also faces trial along with others including the club's former sporting director Antonio Prieto and its ex-owner Agapito Iglesias.

The trial, seen as a certainty in Spain, is expected to be at least six months away. Respected regional newspaper Las Provincias claimed the 42 people involved could face prison sentences ranging from six months to four years if convicted. Prison sentences of less than two years for first-time offenders normally end up being suspended.

The bombshell news comes after a U-turn by Valencia-based investigating judge Isabel Rodriguez. Last July she archived a long-running probe into Zaragoza's 2-1 away win which kept them in La Liga.

The investigation was reopened by Valencia's Provincial Court on January 25 following an appeal by state prosecutors and Deportivo La Coruna, the club relegated as a result of Zaragoza's win.

Reports in Spain say the main basis for the reopening of the case is the £848,450 Zaragoza paid into the accounts of Aguirre, Prieto and nine of their players days ahead of the May 21, 2011 match - and the scarce use Levante players made during the following weeks of their credit card and bank accounts.

Large payments were made to Zaragoza players, which they are accused of passing to Levante

El Pais said investigators suspect the Zaragoza players returned the cash deposited in their accounts to club managers so it could be passed on to the Levante players.

It reported anti-corruption prosecutor Alejandro Luzon named Herrera as the recipient of two cash sums of £44,000 and £35,000.

When she archived the case last year, Isabel Rodriguez said the existence of the bank transfers was 'indisputable', but insisted she felt the evidence put forward by prosectors was not enough to consider the match had been fixed.

She said at the time the only certainty was that Zaragoza players and the then manager and sporting director had received money whose end use was unknown.

33 other footballers including Atletico Madrid midfielder Gabi (centre) are also facing trial

Nearly £850,000 was paid to then Zaragoza boss Javier Aguirre and his players

The same judge has now finalised her probe, having been ordered to reconsider her shelving of the case last summer, and prepared the way for trial by concluding proceedings should continue in a higher criminal court.

Spain's equivalent of the Crown Prosecution Service will now have 10 days to lodge a formal accusation against 36 players including Herrera and Zaragoza's ex-manager and sporting director and formally request the opening of trial proceedings.

Although defence lawyers can then appeal, the logical outcome would be for the trial to take place.

Las Provincias suggested criminal charges would be brought under section 286.4 Bis of Spain's Penal Code, which covers sport corruption.

Spanish radio station Cadena Ser said: 'There will be a trial and we will see all the players that were called up to play the match between Zaragoza and Levante that was allegedly fixed, being ordered to take the witness stand.'

No-one was immediately available at Real Zaragoza, the club where midfielder Herrera began his career before moving to Athletic Bilbao in 2011 and then to Manchester United in 2014, or at Levante.

If the case does come to court, Herrera will be required to attend the trial in Spain