Wayne Rooney has not travelled with Manchester United ahead of their Europa League clash in Denmark due to injury.
Louis van Gaal’s side travel to Midtjylland in the last 32 of the competition and are set to be without their captain.
The striker has scored seven goals in his last nine games and is the chief reason why United still hold a faint hope of Champions League qualification this season.
Morgan Schneiderlin (right) and Anthony Martial pictured at the airport on Wednesday ahead of flying
United playmaker Juan Mata (left) and No 2 keeper Sergio Romero arrive at Manchester Airport
United boss Louis van Gaal takes his team to Denmark to face Midtjylland in the Europa League
United youngsters James Weir (left), Donald Love (centre) and Will Keane are part of the squad
Chris Smalling leads a group of players through Manchester Airport ahead of travelling to Denmark
Brazilian youth international Andreas Pereira (left) and Ander Herrera pictured together at the airport
But he was missing when Van Gaal’s squad boarded their plane bound for Scandinavia at Manchester Airport on Wednesday morning.
The manager will address the topic of Rooney, who played the full 90 minutes in defeat at Sunderland at the weekend, further during a press conference later on Wednesday.
A statement on United's website read: 'Wayne Rooney is a notable absentee from the flight and the manager is expected to confirm why his captain has not made the trip during his pre-match press conference at 17:00 GMT.'
United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward (left) and goalkeeper David de Gea prepare to catch the flight
United assistant Ryan Giggs (left) and experienced midfielder Michael Carrick pictured on Wednesday
Jesse Lingard and Daley Blind make their way through the airport (left) as does Memphis Depay
Van Gaal is taking a youthful 18-man squad to face the Danish champions with Donald Love, Regan Poole, Joe Riley, Andreas Pereira, James Weir and Will Keane all part of the travelling party.
Defender Love, 21, made his first-team debut during last Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Sunderland after replacing the injured Matteo Darmian during the first half.
Weir has been around the first team after the 20-year-old midfielder was an unused substitute when United were held to a 3-3 draw by Newcastle at St James' Park in January.
At just 17, Poole is the youngest member of United's squad. The defender only joined the club last summer from League Two Newport County.
Van Gaal takes the time to greet fans at the airport before boarding the flight to Denmark
Van Gaal signs autographs for supporters (right) as Depay walks through in the background
Wayne Rooney has returned to form in recent weeks but has not travelled with the United squad to Denmark
United have three games in six days next week, starting with the FA Cup trip to League One strugglers Shrewsbury Town.
That is followed by the second leg of their tie against Midtjylland next Thursday before Arsenal in the Premier League on the Sunday.
Rooney has missed only four games since September and led the line alone in most of the games he's played.
Minnows in European football, Midtjylland are making great strides, clinching last season’s Danish Super League under their Moneyball concept.
The weekend defeat at the Stadium of Light left Manchester United facing an uphill struggle to qualify for next season's Champions League through the traditional route.
Carrick (right) wheels his suitcase through the airport followed by former midfielder Giggs
International team-mates Martial (left) and Schneiderlin make their way past a member of security
Old Trafford director Sir Bobby Charlton, wearing long coat and a black trilby, arrives at the airport
Van Gaal leads his players and the United boss will be hoping to lead them to victory against Midtjylland
Van Gaal's side remain six points behind fourth-placed Manchester City and the Dutchman conceded that winning the Europa League might be United's best chance of earning a place in Europe's premier competition.
'We needed the points so much and everyone knew that,' Van Gaal said after the Sunderland loss.
'In the circumstances that Man United are, that is very disappointing. These are the kind of matches you have to win. I said that in advance and we didn't do that.
'The top four will be very difficult now. It is still possible, but it is very difficult. The Europa League is easier (to qualify for the Champions League) but also not so easy, because there you have a fantastic European level in that Cup, so you have to fight for it.'
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