The final Premier League matches of 2016 are a matter of hours away.
As for Manchester United, they will be hoping to continue their recent run of good form as they host Middlesbrough at Old Trafford.
Being right in the thick of one of the most hectic periods of the Premier League season, José Mourinho is expected to rotate his squad in order to keep his players fresh for the second half of the season.
Despite this, few United fans would expect to see Bastian Schweinsteiger given a run out on Saturday. Mourinho’s decision to exile the World Cup-winner from his first team squad at the start of the season made plenty of headlines and, despite receiving an Old Trafford ovation when appearing as a substitute in the League Cup earlier in the month, the German could well be leaving Manchester in the January window.
On the eve of the Middlesbrough game, a tweet from Manchester Evening News’ reporter Samuel Luckhurst has given some United fans reason to believe that Schweinsteiger could be given his first league appearance of the season.
Bastian Schweinsteiger has arrived with #mufc squad at The Lowry.
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) December 30, 2016
Schweinsteiger appeared with the rest of the United squad at The Lowry Hotel on Friday night, a traditional meeting point for the United team the night before home matches. Added to this, Michael Carrick wasn’t sighted – possibly the reason why the former Bayern Munich man has been included in the squad.
Obviously, it’s highly unlikely that Schweinsteiger will start against Boro, but his presence with the squad is enough reason to believe he may make an appearance from the bench – quite possibly his farewell appearance for the club.
