Wayne Rooney returned to Manchester United training on Thursday after missing three matches over the festive period due to injury.

The United captain last played in the 2-0 victory at West Brom on December 17, helping them to a 2-0 win before sustaining a thigh strain in training.

There were few signs of United missing the striker, though, as they beat Sunderland and Middlesbrough at Old Trafford, before also clinching a controversial 2-0 win at West Ham United in his absence.

Rooney endured a miserable 2016 in front of goal, scoring just six times in the Premier League, and he will be eager to get 2017 off to a more convincing start should he be declared fit to feature against Reading in the FA Cup on Saturday.

The 31-year-old returns to action needing just one strike to equal Bobby Charlton's all-time of 249 goals for United.