Lewis Cook is available for selection again after serving his three-game suspension, but the young midfielder insists he doesn’t expect to "just walk straight back into the team" for Saturday’s trip to Derby.

Cook was shown a red card – the first of his senior career – for a first-half challenge in the recent Capital One Cup tie at Doncaster Rovers and missed the following three league games as a result.

United were without the 18-year-old for the visits to Reading and Bristol City, plus the Yorkshire derby with Sheffield Wednesday at Elland Road.

But Cook, who completed 90 minutes for the Under-21s in Monday night’s 2-1 win over Sheffield United, is back in contention for the weekend’s lunchtime kick-off at the iPro Stadium.

“It’s been really frustrating, not being able to play,” he said.

“But it’s a learning curve from me and I’ll bounce back from it, I’m sure.

“It was a bit silly for me to dive in but it’s gone now and I’ve got to concentrate on the season ahead.”

Kalvin Phillips has come into the team and impressed during Cook’s absence, while Luke Murphy is pushing for his first start of the season after returning from injury, meaning Cook is refusing to take an instant return to the starting line-up for granted.

“There’s always a fight with the depth of the squad – we’ve got a lot of midfielders,” he said.

“I don’t expect to just walk straight back into the team. I’ll try my hardest – it’s not going to be easy.”

Cook helped the U21s pick up their first win of the new season at Elland Road on Monday evening, playing his part as eye-catching goals from Lee Erwin and Luke Murphy secured a 2-1 victory over the Blades.

“It’s good to get back out there after my suspension. I enjoyed it,” he said.

“It’s good to get some more fitness for me and the lads did well and got the three points.

“Especially in the first half I thought we really dictated the play. As a team we looked comfortable on the ball.

“We created some good chances but unfortunately we didn’t score in the first half.

“We came out a bit slow in the second half and they got the goal but we showed that grit and determination to win the game.

“Murph’s strike was great and so was Lee’s – they were both great strikes. They do it all the time in training so it’s good to get them in a game.”