Dimitar Berbatov out of Manchester United squad to face Schalke in Champions League semi-final first leg

Dimitar Berbatov starts on the substitute’s bench for Manchester United’s draw with Sunderland (Getty Images)

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Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov has not travelled to Germany as part of the squad to face Schalke in the Champions League semi-final first leg in Gelsenkirchen.

The Premier League face Ralf Rangnick’s side on Tuesday but the Bulgarian, who was absent from United’s victory over Everton on Saturday due to a groin injury, has not been risked and will stay at home alongside Darren Fletcher, Owen Hargreaves and Bebe.

Berbatov has not been in a United squad since his side went down 1-0 to Manchester City at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-final and is said to be unsettled at Old Trafford, having been displaced by Javier Hernandez in Sir Alex Ferguson’s first XI.

Having hit 22 goals so far this season, the former Tottenham man looked to have revitalised his career at Old Trafford but has started only three of United’s last 13 games and with only one year remaining on his current contract, rumours are circulating that he is likely to leave the club in the near future with his relationship with Ferguson said to be broken.

The 30-year-old is the only glaring omission from an otherwise strong United squad, who travel to face the German side as strong favourites to progress to the final at Wembley.