Arsenal
Man Utd Team News: Mourinho Rules Trio Out Of Arsenal Trip + Key Man A Major Doubt
Jose Mourinho has confirmed that three players will miss Man Utd’s trip to Arsenal while another key man is a major doubt for the game.
Manchester United will be desperate to keep the pressure on Man City with a positive result against Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday evening.
Ahead of the game, Jose Mourinho has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference this afternoon and he’s given reporters a team news and injury update.
The United boss has confirmed a triple injury blow with the news that Phil Jones, Eric Bailly and Marouane Fellaini have all been ruled out of the game this weekend.
Jones has missed the last four matches in all competitions since suffering a thigh injury while away on international duty last month and the England international is still not ready to make his return.
Bailly has also been on the sidelines in recent weeks since picking up a groin strain while on duty with the Ivory Coast squad last month and the defender is once again ruled out this weekend.
Midfielder Fellaini is the third player to have been injured during the last international break as he’s still nursing a knee problem so he joins Jones and Bailly in missing the trip to north London.
However, United have not given up hope of Nemanja Matic being available to face Arsenal despite the midfielder being forced off against Watford in midweek with a muscle injury.
Matic limped off early in the second half during the 4-2 win at Vicarage Road and while the Serbian international will travel with the squad to Arsenal tomorrow, Mourinho still can’t guarantee if he’ll be passed fit.
The United boss is quoted as saying by the Manchester Evening News:
“He[Jones]’s not available. Bailly is not available.”
“Matic is a doubt. I hope he can but I cannot guarantee he is selected to go, let’s see the feeling before the match, let’s see the warm up, I hope he can, I want to, he wants to, but I cannot guarantee and Fellaini is not travelling with the team.
If Matic is ruled out, then Ander Herrera is expected to be recalled alongside Paul Pogba in midfield as United go searching for a win that would cut Man City’s lead to just five points ahead of their clash with West Ham on Sunday.
