Man Utd Team News: Mourinho Could Be Without 7 Players For Man City Clash

Manchester United welcome bitter rivals Manchester City to Old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime and Jose Mourinho could be without as many as 7 players for the game, according to ManUtd.com.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan became the latest injury concern after suffering a thigh injury during Armenia’s friendly with the Czech Republic last week and the attacker is back at Carrington undergoing treatment.

The 27-year-old was ruled out for 10 days meaning he is facing a race against time to be fit to play in his first Manchester derby since making the move to Old Trafford from Borussia Dortmund this summer.

Marouane Fellaini is also a big doubt after suffering a back injury during United’s win at Hull City before the international break. The midfielder was not involved in Belgium’s friendly defeat to Spain last week and is also expected to miss their World Cup qualifier against Cyprus on Wednesday.

Mourinho appeared to suggest after the late win at the KCOM Stadium last weekend that Fellaini’s injury was a bad one, so the midfielder is now considered a major doubt to face City on Saturday.

United will also be keeping a close eye on the fitness of Luke Shaw after he was withdrawn from the England squad over the weekend after feeling some pain in his calf on the leg he broke last season while Jesse Lingard is also working his way back to full fitness having not played since the Community Shield.

Antonio Valencia, Marcos Rojo and Sergio Romero are also doubts to face City as the trio won’t return to Carrington from their long-haul trips to South America until Friday meaning they’ll have just 24 hours to prove their fitness ahead of the derby.

It means Mourinho has doubts over seven players ahead of his first encounter with old foe Pep Guardiola on English soil but City also have their own selection problems with Sergio Aguero suspended and Leroy Sane, Ilkay Gundogan, Bacary Sagna and Vincent Kopmany all fitness concerns.