Manchester United stars Marcus Rashford, Paul Pogba and Edinson Cavani tune-up for clash with Zlatan Ibrahimovic – in pictures

Swede is winning his battle to be fit for AC Milan in return Europa League tie

Manchester United players Paul Pogba and Edinson Cavani during training ahead of the Europa League match against AC Milan on Thursday. Getty

United midifelders Fred and Bruno Fernandes during training. Getty

United attacker Marcus Rashford during training ahead of their Europa League clash with AC Milan. Getty

United defender Victor Lindelof during training. Getty

United's Paul Pogba and Alex Telles. Getty

United attacker Mason Greenwood at training. Getty

Harry Maguire at Manchester United training. Getty

Edinson Cavani and Amad at Manchester United training. Getty

Zlatan Ibrahimovic looks set to face Manchester United in AC Milan's Europa League showdown with the Premier League giants on Thursday as the resurgent Rossoneri aim to announce their return to the big stage.

The Swede should be in good spirits after announcing his return to international football after nearly five years away, and appears to be winning the race to face his former club in the second leg of their last-16 clash at the San Siro.

The tie is locked at 1-1, with Milan having the slight edge thanks to Simon Kjaer's stoppage-time away goal in the first leg at Old Trafford last week.

As United stars Marcus Rashford, Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes tuned up for the game, Italian media reported that the veteran forward trained with the rest of the Milan squad and should be available for the first time since he limped out of his side's 2-1 win at Roma with a thigh injury at the end of last month.

With 14 goals in 14 league games, the 39-year-old was a major reason behind Milan occupying top spot in Serie A for large periods of this season and his return to Old Trafford for the first leg had been highly anticipated before he picked up his injury.

Manager Stefano Pioli knows that he doesn't need Ibrahimovic to get past United after a superb display in Manchester last week, and his side could well start the game with their talisman on the bench.

However to ensure passage to the last eight, Milan will need to turn around a dismal recent record at the San Siro which has contributed to their slipping nine points behind Serie A leaders Inter Milan having been top themselves little more than a month ago.

Images from United's training session can be seen in the picture gallery above. To view the next image, click on the arrows or swipe if on a mobile device.