Happy Schweinsteiger staying put at Manchester United

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho admits the door was opened for Bastian Schweinsteiger’s return to the first team by the departures of Memphis Depay and Morgan Schneiderlin from Old Trafford.

Former German captain Schweinsteiger made his first start in over a year in Sunday’s 4-0 FA Cup win over Wigan, and Mourinho confirmed he would be staying put for the remainder of the season.

Schweinsteiger scored one goal and assisted another for Marouane Fellaini in the rout, and Mourinho is hoping to utilise the experienced midfield man in the Europa League.

“He is staying and he is going on the Europa League list because we opened spaces with [Memphis] Depay and [Morgan] Schneiderlin leaving,” he said.

“We don’t have many players; in midfield we don’t have many options, so obviously he is an option.

“Ninety minutes today was probably too hard for him but it was important for him to have an impact with his volley and now I think he’s happy.

“If he was a good professional when he was not playing, now he’s having some minutes and opportunities he’s going to be the same good professional.

“With so many matches and competitions, he’s going to be an option.”