Manchester United duo could return from injury earlier than expected

They could be back in time for Sunday's match against Liverpool

Manchester United's loss against Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their round of 16 Champions League tie on Tuesday was compounded by injuries to two key attackers: Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard. The pair, who have started most matches under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, provided important pace and off the ball movement on the break, and have enjoyed a huge upturn in form since José Mourinho's sacking. First half injuries to them both saw Juan Mata and Alexis Sánchez replace them, and the difference was noticeable. They were initially expected to be ruled out for two to three weeks. However, according to a Mirror exclusive, the injuries are not as bad as first feared. The dynamic duo are now expected to return before that three week period is up and could even be back in time for Sunday's clash with arch rivals Liverpool. This would be a huge boost for United, who have climbed into the top four since Solskjaer took over, and remain undefeated in the league, dropping points only to Burnley in a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford. Solskjaer will want his best XI fit to play against Liverpool. It's now a race against time to ensure that they recover as quickly as possible. Last season's fixture between United and Liverpool at Old Trafford saw the home side win 2-1 thanks to a first half brace from Marcus Rashford. United will be hoping to cause another upset and derail Liverpool's title hopes. Jurgen Klopp's side face Bayern Munich on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League knockout tie, which United will hope means some squad rotation. Whatever happens, it's set to be an enthralling encounter, and will be even more so if Martial and Lingard are fit, which now looks increasingly likely.