Man Utd Match Centre
Man Utd Team News: Mourinho Confirms Quartet Will Miss Everton But Duo Return
Jose Mourinho has confirmed that four of his key players will miss Sunday’s trip to Everton but two others will return to the squad.
Manchester United will be looking to close in on the top four in the Premier League table when they take on Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday afternoon.
Ahead of the game, Jose Mourinho has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference this afternoon and he’s offered ManUtd.com a team news and injury update.
Unfortunately the Portuguese coach has confirmed that Luke Shaw will miss the trip to Merseyside this weekend after the left-back was withdrawn at half-time during Wednesday night’s EFL Cup win over West Ham after picking up a knock.
The good news is that Mourinho appears to suggest the injury isn’t serious after describing it as ‘little’, however, it will be enough to keep the England international full-back out of action this weekend.
It means United will be without three of their back four regulars as Eric Bailly is still unavailable for selection despite returning to training following a serious knee injury while Chris Smalling is still nursing a broken toe.
The Red Devils will therefore be without four key players as Wayne Rooney has also been ruled out of the game against his former club through suspension after picking up his fifth booking of the season during the League Cup win in midweek.
However, there is some positive news as Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini will both return to the squad on Sunday after serving their own one-game suspensions during the win over West Ham.
Mourinho told ManUtd.com:
“The injury [to Luke] is a pity. We were on this process of developing him as a player – he has a lot to learn and great potential to develop so we were giving him 90 minutes. Not consecutive matches but 90 minutes against Feyenoord then, one week later, 90 minutes against West Ham, but he got this little injury.
“In the squad, we are in a very good position with injuries – the two central defenders and Luke is what we have. Everybody is doing really well to keep that record good in such a difficult season with so many matches. Hopefully, we progress in the cup competitions and have more cup games to play in the second part of the season.
“Wayne comes in the sequence of the yellow cards that stops Ibra [Zlatan Ibrahimovic] playing against Arsenal, the sequence of yellow cards that stopped Marouane Fellaini and Paul Pogba playing against West Ham. But, okay, everybody makes mistakes and [it’s] no problem.”
With Shaw ruled out, Daley Blind is expected to come back in to the side at left-back while Pogba could replace Rooney in the advanced attacking midfield role if Mourinho decides to stick with Michael Carrick alongside Ander Herrera at the base of the midfield.
BACK MAN UTD TO BEAT EVERTON AT CRAZY ODDS OF 4/1
United head to Goodison Park sitting sixth in the division – eight points off the top four and eleven adrift of leaders Chelsea – so they desperately need a positive result to keep in touch at the top of the table.
