Athletic Bilbao without 17-goal star for Man Utd clash with injury blow confirmed
Amorim and his side looking for a big win on the road on Thursday (Picture: Getty) Athletic Bilbao will be without top scorer Oihan Sancet when they take on Manchester United in the Europa League on Thursday night. After a thrilling quarter-final fightback against Lyon, United travel to the Basque country for the first leg of semi-final action this week. Athletic are flying high in La Liga, sat in fourth place with five games of the season remaining but will be without one of their most influential players tomorrow. Only Robert Lewandowski, Kylian Mbappe and Osasuna’s Ante Budimir have scored more league goals than Sancet this term with the Spain international scoring 15 in 25 appearances, with another two registered in the Europa League. The 25-year-old started both games against Rangers in the quarter-finals but was forced off in the first-half last time out against Las Palmas. Get personalised updates on Manchester United every day Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. Athletic boss Ernesto Valverde has confirmed Sancet will have no role to play at San Mames but is hopeful he will be available again for the return leg in Manchester next week. ‘He’s ruled out for tomorrow,’ said Valverde said. Sancet has scored 17 goals in all competitions this season (Picture: Getty) ‘We’ll see what happens next. We’ll go for what will work for us.’ Nico Williams has struggled with a groin problem recently but made his return off the bench last week and is available to start on Thursday night. ‘Big games are when big players emerge,’ Valverde continued. ‘I’m really looking forward to tomorrow and also the game at Old Trafford. ‘I hope we can score goals because we’re all really excited about this game and we’re going to try to do our best.’ United and Athletic last met in this competition in 2012 with the Premier League giants thoroughly outclassed by the side then managed by Marcelo Bielsa. Amad Diallo back in training for United (Picture: Getty) Defeats home and away saw Alex Ferguson’s side crash out of the competition 5-3 on aggregate at the last 16 stage. Hopelessly marooned in 15th place in the Premier League, the Europa League is United’s last chance to salvage something from their season and secure qualification for next season’s Champions League. United will be boosted by the return of Matthijs de Ligt with the Dutchman missing his side’s last six games. Amad Diallo is also nearing his return after recovering from an ankle ligament injury.
Athletic Bilbao will be without top scorer Oihan Sancet when they take on Manchester United in the Europa League on Thursday night.
After a thrilling quarter-final fightback against Lyon, United travel to the Basque country for the first leg of semi-final action this week.
Athletic are flying high in La Liga, sat in fourth place with five games of the season remaining but will be without one of their most influential players tomorrow.
Only Robert Lewandowski, Kylian Mbappe and Osasuna’s Ante Budimir have scored more league goals than Sancet this term with the Spain international scoring 15 in 25 appearances, with another two registered in the Europa League.
The 25-year-old started both games against Rangers in the quarter-finals but was forced off in the first-half last time out against Las Palmas.
Get personalised updates on Manchester United every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you.
Athletic boss Ernesto Valverde has confirmed Sancet will have no role to play at San Mames but is hopeful he will be available again for the return leg in Manchester next week.
‘He’s ruled out for tomorrow,’ said Valverde said.
‘We’ll see what happens next. We’ll go for what will work for us.’
Nico Williams has struggled with a groin problem recently but made his return off the bench last week and is available to start on Thursday night.
‘Big games are when big players emerge,’ Valverde continued. ‘I’m really looking forward to tomorrow and also the game at Old Trafford.
‘I hope we can score goals because we’re all really excited about this game and we’re going to try to do our best.’
United and Athletic last met in this competition in 2012 with the Premier League giants thoroughly outclassed by the side then managed by Marcelo Bielsa.
Defeats home and away saw Alex Ferguson’s side crash out of the competition 5-3 on aggregate at the last 16 stage.
Hopelessly marooned in 15th place in the Premier League, the Europa League is United’s last chance to salvage something from their season and secure qualification for next season’s Champions League.
United will be boosted by the return of Matthijs de Ligt with the Dutchman missing his side’s last six games.
Amad Diallo is also nearing his return after recovering from an ankle ligament injury.
