Carrick set for United return

Michael Carrick could make his first-team return for Manchester United in their Champions League group stage clash with Valencia on Wednesday.

The midfielder has not started a game for United since the Community Shield and, although he did join up with the England squad for their opening Euro 2012 qualifiers, he was then sent for an injection to try to ease the discomfort from a niggling Achilles problem.

Sir Alex Ferguson reported on Friday that Carrick had returned to training and the former Tottenham star was on the flight to Spain on Tuesday morning that departed without the injured Wayne Rooney.

Carrick's presence was counter-balanced by the absences of Paul Scholes and Gary Neville.

Although Neville has not featured since the draw with Everton at the start of the month, Scholes is regarded as a key man.

However, having used the 35-year-old for the full 90 minutes at Bolton, it seems Ferguson has opted to leave the veteran at home in readiness for Saturday's trip to Sunderland.

It left 22 players to make the trip, and there is an argument to be made that even without his injury, Rooney did not even deserve a place in Ferguson's starting line-up at the Mestalla Stadium on Wednesday.