Two Manchester United players ruled out but one returns vs Brighton

Fred will return to the Manchester United squad for their Premier League fixture against Brighton on Tuesday night.

The midfielder missed the last two games against Burnley and Southampton after he tested positive for Covid-19 at United's Carrington training complex last Monday.

Edinson Cavani, who turned 35 on Valentine's Day, is still sidelined with a groin injury and Nemanja Matic is also unavailable again with a shin injury.

"Yes, Fred will be available again and will also be part of the group for tomorrow," interim United manager Ralf Rangnick said. "Edinson is still out, the same with Nema.

"Alex [Telles] is back again in the squad - he was already part of the group for the Southampton game - and he will also be available."

Despite their frustrating form, United could rise to fourth if they beat Brighton and finishing in the final Champions League qualifying place has become the club's domestic aim.

United start their Champions League knockout campaign against Atletico Madrid next week in the round-of-16 and Rangnick is reluctant to look beyond this season as to what must happen to arrest the club's decline.

"Right now, this is exactly what Manchester United needs and wants: to finish fourth in the league," Rangnick stressed. "This is the highest possible achievement we can get (domestically).

"The Champions League, hopefully to proceed into the next round of the Champions League, is not an easy one. In the league, it's number four, that's our ambition, what we have to achieve and what we're aiming at.

"Next season, after being here now for 10 or 11 weeks, of course, I know what it takes for next season but it's not the time now to discuss this with anyone, my full focus is on tomorrow, then Sunday, Wednesday and