Manchester United right-back Diogo Dalot has made his return to training from injury as the Red Devils gear up to face Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on New Year's Eve.
The Portugal international has been absent for the Red Devils' first two games back since the World Cup break after returning from Qatar with a hamstring problem.
Dalot sustained the issue during Portugal's quarter-final defeat to Morocco, and he has been forced to miss clashes with Burnley and Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup and Premier League as a result.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka has impressed in Dalot's absence, having lost his place to the 23-year-old earlier in the season, but the latter has now been put through his paces on the training pitches.
Dalot was pictured with the ball at his feet at Carrington on Friday, handing Erik ten Hag a welcome fitness boost as the Red Devils prepare for their lunchtime trip to Molineux on Saturday.
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The former Porto man initially found it difficult to force his way into the Man United first XI after arriving in 2018, but he has established himself as Ten Hag's number one right-back this season.
Dalot has come up with one goal and two assists from 21 outings in all tournaments, taking his total for the Red Devils to two goals and five assists from 85 appearances.
The defender was due to become a free agent in the summer, but Man United have now triggered a 12-month extension until 2024 and are believed to be keen to tie him down to longer terms.
Despite Dalot's return to fitness, Ten Hag is still facing a selection dilemma at right-back, having been satisfied with the level of Wan-Bissaka's performances against Burnley and Forest.
"In the first half of the season, [Wan-Bissaka] was either injured or ill, so you don't have a role in the squad," Ten Hag told reporters during Friday's pre-match press conference.
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""He returned, he was in the training camp in Spain, where he could play some games in preparation for the restart. Now he has played two games and he is doing really well so I am happy with his performance. But we need that competition in our squad.
"By training (how do you develop his game). By coaching. And he has to play games in the team and then you can develop and then you can grow."
As well as Dalot, Victor Lindelof - one of several players affected by a bug which has also claimed Scott McTominay and Harry Maguire - was also pictured in training on Friday.
Axel Tuanzebe and Jadon Sancho remain out for the Red Devils, while Argentinian World Cup representative Lisandro Martinez is expected to return in another defensive boost for Ten Hag.
Man United are just one point behind Tottenham Hotspur with a game in hand and will break into the top four of the Premier League table with victory at Molineux.
Ben Knapton
