De Gea, Valencia expected to be available for Anderlecht trip

Jose Mourinho is optimistic about the respective availabilities of David De Gea and Antonio Valencia ahead of travelling to Anderlecht for Thursday's Europa League quarter-final first leg.

De Gea sat out Manchester United's 3-0 win Sunday at Sunderland with a hip complaint, while Valencia has missed the last two matches with an undisclosed issue.

"We played with the players available," Mourinho said, according to Adam Higgins from MUTV, of the Sunderland match. "Not one single player stayed in Manchester because we were thinking about resting them, or because we were thinking about rotation or about Anderlecht. Not at all.

"These are the players available at the moment and, when I look to the others, I just expect Valencia to be ready to play and no more, I don't think. I don't think any one of the other boys will be ready to play."

While Valencia is expected to be fielded in Brussels, De Gea is likely to be named on the bench for continental action. His deputy, Sergio Romero, has performed well in the Europa League - conceding one goal in seven outings - and is likely to resume his cup-keeper duties in the last-eight tilt.

"De Gea's injury is not serious and Romero - every time he plays he plays so well," Mourinho continued. "The fans are used to having Romero in goal in the competition - that becomes the most important competition for us after winning the League Cup.

"The Europa League is the competition we can still win, so when Sergio plays in the Europa League and when we are giving him this confidence to play, it's because we know that his answer is positive and today he looked like he was really comfortable."

Mourinho is prioritising winning the Europa League due to how matters are faring domestically. Although the League Cup was secured in February, United is four points short of the Champions League qualification places in England's top flight. Picking up silverware in the Europa League would assure progression into the Champions League, regardless of finishing outside the top four.

United follows the Belgium jaunt with a visit from runaway leader Chelsea on Sunday.