Fresh from keeping alive their hopes of winning a first trophy since

2013, Manchester United return to their bid to secure a place in next

season’s Champions League when they host Aston Villa on Saturday.

United will play Everton in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley on

April 23 thanks to their 2-1 win at West Ham United in their

quarter-final replay in midweek as they look to win the competition for

the first time since 2004.

As 11-time winners, United will regard that gap as too long and

lifting the Cup would bring some comfort to under-pressure manager Louis

van Gaal following a difficult second year at Old Trafford.

But playing in the Champions League has to be United’s highest

priority for the rest of the season and, with a four-point gap to

Manchester City in the Premier League’s fourth qualification place, they

have to keep winning.

Van Gaal’s side may well have to take maximum points from their final

six games to have any chance of catching City, or third-placed Arsenal,

and they certainly can’t afford to drop any points when bottom club

Villa visit Old Trafford.

With their relegation set to be confirmed, Villa won’t fancy facing

United striker Marcus Rashford, whose superb winning goal at West Ham

underlined the potential of a player who has been the success story of

United’s under-achieving season.

“It’s incredible. It’s so good to see young lads come in, do well and

take their chance,” said United midfielder Michael Carrick of the

18-year-old forward who has scored six goals since making his first-team

debut at the end of February.

“Not in his wildest dreams could he have predicted the last two or three months that he’s had.

“He’s still got his feet on his ground though. He doesn’t change and he works hard and listens.

“He’s willing to learn and I think he’s got a great chance of staying at the top for a long time.

“I don’t think it’s a flash in the pan, in and out. I think he’s here to stay.”

United captain Wayne Rooney

could start after returning from two months out with a knee injury as a

substitute against the Hammers on Wednesday.

Villa fans will head for Old Trafford in low spirits, knowing their

club’s inevitable relegation will be confirmed before kick-off if

Norwich City avoid defeat to Sunderland in the day’s early fixture.

A Sunderland victory at Carrow Road would prolong the agony for

Villa, whose fate would still be rubber-stamped on Saturday unless they

then win at Old Trafford — a feat they have achieved just once in 31

visits.

The anger among supporters intensified when Gabby Agbonlahor, the

long-serving club captain, was placed on an initial two-week fitness

regime following a damning assessment from caretaker manager Eric Black.

“I sat down with Gabby on Monday and we agreed together that we would

put in place a fitness regime for him to get him up to speed so that he

can be considered again,” Black said.

“We have put that in place for two weeks and it will involve some

group work with us, some work with the under-21s and some work as an

individual.

“I have to try to get the best out of the squad I’ve got and together

we agreed that he wasn’t in a condition to be involved in the squad.

“He has agreed he needs to be in better condition and that is what I am trying to do, whether it’s one small step, I don’t know.

“I can’t do the running and get involved in that. It will be up to Gabby. It’s his responsibility.”