Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly injured in training

Manchester United legend Cristiano Ronaldo was reportedly forced to leave the club's training ground early after picking up a thigh injury on Thursday.

The Portuguese maestro left the Carrington training ground way before other players finished their training.

The Red Devils will aim to bounce back in the Premier League against Steven Gerrard's Aston Villa after their disappointing loss to Wolves last time out.

Ronaldo would be eager to make an impact in this game, but The Sun claims the 36-year-old has now picked up a separate thigh issue in training.

The report adds that United's medical specialists examined Ronaldo before he left Carrington.

Ronaldo is said to be desperate to regain his fitness and return to prime form ahead of Manchester United's UEFA Champions League round-of-16 games kicking off in February.

The Portugal legend has scored eight goals in 16 Premier League appearances for the Red Devils since his glorified return back home.

In an interview with Sky Sports this week, Ronaldo insisted even 4th position in the table is not good enough for a club the size of United.

"Manchester United should win the league or be second or third," he said.

"I don't see other positions for Manchester United to be honest, I don't see. In my eyes, I don't accept that our mentality be less than to be in the top three.

"We are capable to change things now. I don't know the specific way I'm a player, not the coach, the president, I know the way but I'm not going to mention it here because I think it's not ethic [sic] from my part to say that.

"What I can say and something I can say we are in control, we can do it better, all of us. Manchester belongs in important things, we have to change that.

"I don't want to be here in a club to fight to be in sixth or seventh or fifth place, I'm here to try to win, to compete.

"I think we compete but we are not yet at our best level. Long way to improve and I believe if we change our mind, we can achieve big things."