Manchester United are likely to have largely the same squad at West Ham United on Sunday as we did at Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday, but Erik ten Hag is hoping to have one important player back.

Alejandro Garnacho, who signed a new long-term contract with the club last week, has been absent for United’s last 12 games in all competitions, after suffering a serious ankle injury during March’s 0-0 draw with Southampton.

The Reds have missed the electric presence on the wings of the 18-year-old, who has enjoyed his breakthrough season at Old Trafford.

Garnacho has four goals and five assists from just over 1,000 minutes of senior action in 2022/23 and scored the winner in the Emirates FA Cup fifth-round victory over West Ham earlier in the campaign.

Ten Hag says it depends on how Garnacho progresses in training but didn’t rule out the prospect of our no.49 being involved with the squad this weekend.

“No, I think it will be the same squad,” Ten Hag initially replied, when asked if he had any team news before our visit to the London Stadium. “Maybe one player [to add]: Garnacho. I have to see.

“Maybe he can be involved but we will have to see how the progress can go.”

Earlier this week, Ten Hag ruled Scott McTominay and Raphael Varane out of the trip to east London, but suggested Varane is further along in his recovery and could return later this month.

Varane was injured during the 2-2 draw with Sevilla in April, while McTominay hasn’t appeared since scoring the opener against Everton five days earlier.

Lisandro Martinez is out for the season with a fractured metatarsal and, while his recovery bid is going well, we do not expect to see Donny van de Beek again before the summer.

The home side are expected to welcome Nayef Aguerd, Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek back after illness, but Gianluca Scamacca and Kurt Zouma are missing, while Vladimir Coufal is a doubt with a hamstring issue.