Man Utd Match Centre
Man Utd Team News: Mourinho Confirms Injury Blow, 8 Players Miss Swansea Clash
Jose Mourinho has confirmed a major injury blow ahead of Man Utd’s clash with Swansea with a total of eight players now set to miss the game
Manchester United will be looking to continue their push for the top four when they take on Swansea at Old Trafford 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 Red Devils boss has confirmed a huge injury blow with the news that Paul Pogba is still not ready to return as he continues to recover from a muscle problem.
The French international was forced off during the closing stages of United’s win at Burnley last weekend and missed the draw with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium last night.
Pogba has now been ruled out of Sunday’s clash with Swansea but Mourinho is hopeful the midfielder will be available for the first leg of their Europa League semi-final with Celta Vigo on Thursday.
Marouane Fellaini is also unavailable as he’s facing a three-game suspension following his dismissal against City so Mourinho has admitted that Wayne Rooney could be deployed in a deeper midfield role.
United’s injury crisis deepened further after Timothy Fosu-Mensah sustained a shoulder injury during his late cameo appearance at the Etihad but it seems Juan Mata is edging back to full fitness following groin surgery.
With Chris Smalling still nursing a knee injury, Phil Jones recovering from a foot problem and Marcos Rojo out for several months with a knee ligament injury, Mourinho has admitted he may have to call upon young defender Axel Tuanzebe.
Mourinho told the clubs website:
” [Pogba will be back] For Celta. It’s an option [Rooney in midfield]. We have Herrera and Carrick and nothing else. Tim is another one that we miss so we are in trouble but we will fight that’s for sure.
“I think the first one to be back is Mata, which gives us another option in attack but, in reality, what we need now is one of the two central defenders to be back.”
“In this moment, Eric is the only option we have – it’s Axel, Eric and Daley [Blind]. I think Eric and Daley played again absolutely amazing [against City]. I have to speak with them and see how they are and see how they feel.”
With Zlatan Ibrahimovic also ruled out for the rest of the season with a double cruciate knee ligament injury, it means United will be without a total of 8 first team squad players this weekend.
It’s not the idea situation to contend with as United try to maintain their push for the top four with a win over Swansea having stayed one point adrift of City with a draw last night.
