Timothy Fosu-Mensah takes Zlatan Ibrahimovic's autobiography to read on Manchester United's flight to face Zorya Luhansk in Ukraine

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Manchester United youngster Timothy Fosu-Mensah is clearly looking to pick up a few tips from star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic during the four-hour flight to face Zorya Luhansk.

United head to the Ukrainian city of Odessa, Zorya's adopted home due to civil war in the country, knowing just a point will see them make it through to the knockout stages of the Europa League.

While a number of senior players have been left at home, Ibrahimovic and Fosu-Mensah have travelled, with the latter pictured holding a copy of the Swedish striker's book I am Zlatan Ibrahimovic as he headed to the plane.

Timothy Fosu-Mensah has his copy of Zlatan Ibrahimovic's book to read on the flight

Defender Fosu-Mensah was holding a copy of the striker's book, with a red cover and pages

Paul Pogba and Fosu-Mensha, book in hand, wait to board United's four-hour flight to Odessa

Fosu-Mensah was carrying a red copy of the book, which was originally released in yellow

Former Juventus, Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain forward Ibrahimovic originally released his book in 2011 with a striking yellow cover and pages, but Fosu-Mensah was pictured carrying a red version, released following the Swede's move to Old Trafford in a bid to capture the imagination of the Red Devils' supporters.

The move has clearly worked on United's players, too, with Fosu-Mensah now having plenty to keep him entertained during the journey, given the explosive content of his team-mate's autobiography. 

Ibrahimovic discusses a potential move to United's rivals, Manchester City in 2010, his relationship with current City boss Pep Guardiola while they were at Barcelona, his hot-headed nature in training and his visit to Arsenal in 2000. 

Neither Chris Smalling or Luke Shaw have travelled as they continue to recover from injuries, while Bastian Schweinsteiger will not be involved, despite his recent return to the first-team picture, as he was not registered for the Europa League campaign.

Manchester United will cover more than 3,000 miles on their return flight to Odessa

Swedish striker Ibrahimovic stopped to sign autographs for fans at Manchester Airport

Pogba and Fosu-Mensah share a joke as they wait to board their flight at the airport

Manager Jose Mourinho has opted to leave a number of senior players at home for the clash

Wayne Rooney is back in the United squad after being suspended for the draw at Everton

Michael Carrick, Matteo Darmian, Antonio Valencia, Memphis Depay and Morgan Schneiderlin have also not headed east, but Wayne Rooney is back from suspension and Eric Bailly could be involved after returning to the bench for Sunday's draw at Everton. 

Mourinho's men are looking to extend their Europa League campaign into the spring, which they will do if they draw their final Group A game.

HOW CAN MANCHESTER UNITED QUALIFY FROM GROUP A? 

- A draw away at Zorya will be enough for United to progress to the knockout stage

- United will also progress if Feyenoord fail to beat Fenerbahce in Rotterdam

If Feyenoord fail to win against Fenerbahce, then United would progress even with defeat in Ukraine.

The Red Devils' travelling party began their near-2,000 mile journey to Odessa on Wednesday morning, to face a side who have not been able to play in their home city of Luhansk since 2014.

(From left) Sam Johnstone, Jesse Lingard and Daley Blind arrive for the flight on Wednesday

Civil war between Russian-backed rebels and government forces has ravaged the club's home city in eastern Ukraine, with their Avanhard Stadium hit by heavy shelling which left a crater in the pitch and damaged the main stand. Fighting has also damaged the city's airport.

Odessa, in the west of the country and the regular home of Chornomorets, has hosted Zorya's Europa League games so far this season while the club have played domestic home games in Zaporizhia since 2014.

Zorya have launched a major security operation ahead of the game amid fears that English fans will be targeted in Ukraine.

Phil Jones is also part of the United squad as they bid to secure progress in the Europa League

Marcus Rashford will be looking to score his first goal in more than two months against Zorya

United have written to their supporters warning them not to wear club colours in Odessa and issued specific travel instructions following violence when Feyenoord and Fenerbahce played their Group A ties in the Black Sea port.

It has emerged that 500 police – more than twice the usual number for Zorya’s league fixtures – 140 personnel from a private security firm and 260 stewards will be on duty for the game which has been sold out for nearly a month. Additional police units will also be on patrol in the city centre.

As well as unfamiliar surroundings, a partisan crowd and opponents they have faced just once previously - a 1-0 victory in September - the United players are set to come up against sub-zero temperatures at Zorya's adopted home.

Anthony Martial believes his side's mental strength will be key to Europa League progress

Forward Anthony Martial, though, believes mental strength will be key.

'It is very different – not just the supporters but the weather,' he told MUTV. 'Over there, it's really cold at this time of the season.

'But it's down to us to come to terms with that, adapt to the environment we find ourselves in and get the victory we need.

'You prepare as well as you can and rest on the plane, but a lot of it can be in your head. It's how you approach things mentally. It's about what happens on the pitch; if you do your stuff out there, that's what counts.'     

The United players, led by Ibrahimovic, head up an escalator as they prepare for their flight