Jose Mourinho has confirmed Bastian Schweinsteiger will be staying at Manchester United and will be added to their Europa League squad.
The 32-year-old Germany veteran made his first start of the season in the 4-0 thrashing of Wigan in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday - only his third appearance of the campaign.
The midfielder had been frozen out by Mourinho but began to train with the first-team again before Christmas and has a future at the club at least for the rest of the season.
Mourinho said: "Yes, he is staying. He is going to in the Europa League list because we opened spaces with (Memphis) Depay and (Morgan) Schneiderlin (leaving).
"We don't have many players, and we don't have many options in midfield. Ninety minutes (against Wigan) was probably too for Bastian, from minutes 65-70 it was hard for him but now I think he is happy.
"He was a good professional when he was not playing, and after having some minutes he will be the same. With so many competitions and games he will be an option."
Mourinho deflected a question about captain Wayne Rooney, after reports emerged in the national newspapers this weekend that he is the subject of negotiations over a move to China.
But the Portuguese made sure label his club's fixture schedule as "nonsense" after thrashing the Latics at Old Trafford.
"We are going to have a very difficult season compared with other clubs. Liverpool will play 16 matches until the end of the season, Chelsea will play 16 plus some in the FA Cup, and we are in this really crazy situation," he said.
"Southampton will have 15 days without football before the final. We are going to play two matches against Saint-Etienne and the next round of the FA Cup, so the calendar in the best country of world football is nonsense."