Manchester United vs West Ham: Red Devils without six first-team stars for FA Cup quarter finals clash

Manchester United are set to be without six first-team players for their clash against West Ham United in the quarter finals of the FA Cup on Sunday (13 March). The Red Devils hope to bounce back from their humiliating midweek defeat in the first-leg of the Europa League last-16 clash at the hands of Liverpool at Anfield. The FA Cup represents their only chance of silverware this season unless they mount a comeback against the Reds in the second-leg.

The Red Devils are facing the prospect of finishing outside the top four in the Premier League for the second time in three seasons and West Ham United are one of the teams standing in their way of achieving their goal of qualifying for the Champions League. The Hammers are one of the in-form teams in the league and Louis van Gaal's team will have their task cut out at Old Trafford on Sunday.

The injury crisis at the club is slowly easing as the number of first-team stars injured has dropped from 13 to six in a matter of weeks. Bastian Schweinsteiger and Marouane Fellaini are back in the squad and could start against the Hammers, but there are still a few absentees. Antonio Valencia, Phil Jones and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson are close to making a return, while Wayne Rooney, Ashley Young and Luke Shaw are more long-term.

The Ecuador international has returned to training and made an appearance for the United U21 side during their clash against the Liverpool U21 side on Friday (11 March) and hence will not be available for the clash against Slaven Bilic's side.

"United are without Wayne Rooney (knee), Luke Shaw (leg) and Ashley Young (groin/pelvis), but Marouane Fellaini and Bastian Schweinsteiger both returned to action against Liverpool. Antonio Valencia, Phil Jones and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson are nearing a return while Jesse Lingard should also rejoin the squad after missing the game at Anfield through suspension," read a statement on United's official site.