Toon in training: Villa in view

Ciaran Clark is in line to face his former club, while Federico Fernández and Javier Manquillo's recent returns to full training have eased United's defensive problems.

Callum Wilson, Miguel Almirón and Allan Saint-Maximin are still sidelined but Joelinton, Andy Carroll, Joe Willock, Ryan Fraser, Dwight Gayle, Sean Longstaff and Jacob Murphy are vying for places and teenager Elliot Anderson's impressive display for the under-23s against Sunderland on Monday won't have gone unnoticed by Steve Bruce.  

Little went unnoticed by club photographer Serena Taylor during Wednesday's training session, either, and she brought nufc.co.uk this gallery. 

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