Jose Mourinho has said Manchester United need Eric Bailly back after the defender returned to the squad following injury.
The Ivory Coast defender was an unused substitute in the 1-1 draw at Everton on Sunday, having missed the previous eight games in all competitions with a knee injury.
With Chris Smalling also out, with a toe problem, Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo have been United's central defensive pairing.
On Bailly's return, United manager Mourinho said: "We need that. It's impossible for the same players to play every match and, in this moment, we are having that because of a lack of available options.
"So to have Eric back is good news, even though it is only for a few weeks because we know he goes to the Africa Cup of Nations very soon [in January].
"But at least in this busy period of Christmas we have one more option. That's important."
United still have six more games to play in December, starting with an away game against Zorya Luhansk on Thursday. That is followed by Premier League matches against Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace, West Bromwich Albion, Sunderland and Middlesbrough.