Man Utd Team News: Mourinho Confirms Fresh Injury Blow + Rooney & Shaw Updates

Manchester United will kick start their Europa League campaign away to Feyenoord on Thursday night and Jose Mourinho has given a team news update ahead of the game.

As we reported earlier, Mourinho decided to leave Rooney back in Manchester and the United boss has confirmed that he decided to give his captain a breather as he’s played in every game since the start of the season.

Antonio Valencia and Luke Shaw have also not travelled to Rotterdam and Mourinho has revealed that the full-backs have also been rested while Jesse Lingard is another player who’s been left behind as the United boss looks to use the full depth of his squad.

Summer signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan will also miss the Feyenoord clash and while Mourinho didn’t give any update on the Armenian international, it’s understood he’s aggravated a thigh injury and is expected to be out for around 10 days.

Mourinho is quoted as saying by ManUtd.com:

“He has played every game since the start of the season,”

“He has also played 90 minutes for the England team. He played 90 minutes last weekend and I want him to be fresh for the next Premier League match in the position he plays I have lots of solutions and people that it has been really hard to have a chance.”

“Well I think it is better to tell the players they are not coming but we are only talking about Wayne Rooney. Also, Antonio Valencia and Luke Shaw did not travel with the team. They are positions where I have other solutions, fresh players for this game and fresh players for the game next Sunday.

“Marcos Rojo is a very good player who is working really well, working hard. My option in the last four games in the Premier League was Luke, Luke, Luke, Luke and I think it is time for Marcos to play so it was a simple decision.”

“We play on Thursday here, then we go back and play at 12 o’clock on Sunday [Watford]. I’ll try to have a strong team here, a strong team for Sunday and give rest to some players. Wayne took it professionally, like the other players.”

Phil Jones was another notable absentee from the 20-man squad that flew out to Holland on Wednesday afternoon and Mourinho also told reporters that the defender has suffered a knee ligament injury and is expected to be out for around a month.

Another Phil Jones blow. Left behind because of a lateral knee ligament injury. Mourinho says he might be out for a month. #MUFC

— Stuart Mathieson (@StuMathiesonMEN) September 14, 2016

In Rooney’s absence, Marcus Rashford is expected to come in to the attack while Ander Herrera is another player pushing for a recall to the starting eleven after they both put in excellent performances from the substitutes bench during the defeat to Manchester City at the weekend.

As Mourinho has confirmed, Marcos Rojo is set to deputise for Luke Shaw at left-back while Matteo Darmian will be hoping to start at right-back with Antonio Valencia rested.