Jose Mourinho is ready to restore Wayne Rooney to his Manchester United squad for Sunday's EFL Cup final against Southampton, if the 31-year-old is able to prove his fitness before departing for London on Saturday, sources have told ESPN FC.
Rooney was omitted from the travelling squad for United's Europa League clash against St Etienne in France this week after only returning to training the day before Wednesday's 1-0 victory at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
But sources have told ESPN FC that Mourinho is keen to have Rooney in his 18-man squad at Wembley, both because of his attacking qualities and as a reflection of his status as club captain.
Rooney, who continues to be linked with a move to China ahead of next Tuesday's transfer deadline for the Chinese Super League, has not kicked a ball for United since making a substitute appearance in the 0-0 Premier League draw against Hull City at Old Trafford on Feb. 1.
The England captain's absence since has been attributed to a muscular strain, but the player returned to training for the first time on Tuesday morning.
Mourinho said that Rooney did not take part in full training on Tuesday, hence his decision to leave him in Manchester to work on his fitness rather than include him in his travelling party to St Etienne.
But Rooney is now in full training and pushing for a return to the squad and Mourinho will decide on his inclusion for Wembley after monitoring his performances at United's Aon Training Complex over the next two days.
Concerns over the fitness of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Michael Carrick are also likely to work in Rooney's favour, with both players struggling to overcome injury in time to face Southampton.
Mkhitaryan (hamstring) and Carrick (calf) both limped out of the St Etienne victory on Wednesday, prompting Mourinho to say after the game that neither player is likely to figure at Wembley.
"Henrikh and Michael, I think they are both out," Mourinho said. "But this is based on my experience, not on my medical knowledge and not based on tests and what they have to do.
"I think no chance, but I repeat it's just my experience. A calf, a hamstring, even if it's minor, some fibre damage, I think out."