League Cup
Man Utd Team News: Mourinho Confirms Double Boost But Key Man To Miss Cup Final
Jose Mourinho has confirmed a double fitness boost ahead of Man Utd’s EFL Cup final with Southampton but a key man will miss the trip to Wembley
Man Utd will be hoping to secure the first piece of silverware of the season when they take on Southampton at Wembley in the EFL Cup final 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 given ManUtd.com a team news and injury update.
The United boss was pleased to confirm a double boost with Michael Carrick passed fit while Wayne Rooney is also ready to feature against the Saints this weekend.
Carrick was a major doubt for the game after limping out of United’s Europa League win over Saint-Etienne on Wednesday night with an apparent calf injury.
However, Mourinho has revealed that the experienced midfielder asked to be substituted at just the right moment as he prevented the injury from developing any further and Carrick has now been passed fit for action this weekend.
Rooney hasn’t featured in any of United’s last five matches in all competitions due to a niggling hamstring injury but the attacker is now fully fit and Mourinho says he’ll play some part in the cup final on Sunday.
The United boss also gave an update on Phil Jones and the centre-back will face a late fitness test tomorrow as he looks to overcome a foot injury that’s hampered him in recent games.
However, there wasn’t such good news on Henrikh Mkhitaryan as the attacker has been ruled out after suffering a hamstring injury during United’s win over Saint-Etienne in midweek.
Mourinho told the clubs website:
“Michael [Carrick] is available. Clever, experienced. He left the pitch [against Saint-Etienne] in the right moment so Michael is available. Mkhitaryan is out and Jones, let’s see and decide tomorrow.
“Wayne’s fine, he’s training with the team. He was not selected for Saint-Etienne because he was not ready to play but he was ready to have one more important training session and no doubts, no doubts, he is involved in the game.”
It will be a huge boost for United to have Carrick available as his experience will be vital in a cup final but I expect Rooney will have to make do with a place among the substitutes on Sunday.
Mkhitaryan will be a big loss for Mourinho’s men as he’s been in superb form in recent months but Ander Herrera will return to the squad after serving a European ban against Saint-Etienne so he should be well rested.
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