Man Utd Team News: Duo Ruled Out But Mourinho Names 5 Others Who Will Start

Manchester United will look to navigate their remaining two Premier League games as they prepare for the final of the Europa League later this month.

Sunday’s defeat at Tottenham has ended any hopes of finishing in the top four so Jose Mourinho’s focus is now getting his squad prepared to meet Ajax in Stockholm next week.

The United boss has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference ahead of tomorrow night’s trip to Southampton and he’s given ManUtd.com an insight in to the team he’ll pick for the game.

Understandably, the Portuguese coach is ready to utilise his squad for the last two league games but Mourinho insists he’ll still pick a side “with the minimum of conditions to fight for a result”.

Paul Pogba won’t be involved at St Mary’s as he’s still in France for his father’s funeral while Mourinho has also revealed that Daley Blind will be rested after playing the full 90 minutes against Celta Vigo and Tottenham.

However, the United boss has confirmed that Marouane Fellaini will return to the starting eleven after completing his three-match domestic ban while Chris Smalling and Phil Jones are set to start in defence.

Mourinho has revealed that Juan Mata will look to get 90 minutes under his belt tomorrow night after recently recovering from groin surgery while Anthony Martial will also be given a start against the Saints.

Sergio Romero is expected to be handed the gloves for the Europa League final and Mourinho has revealed that the Argentinean international will also start one of their remaining league games in order to keep himself sharp for the final.

Mourinho told the clubs website:

“I have to build some teams with the minimum of conditions to fight for a result. We lost against Arsenal 2-0 and we fought for the result. We lost 2-1 [at Spurs] and we fought for the result.

“So I’m going to rotate some people. Blind will not play against Southampton but Fellaini will, because he has not played the last three matches. These are examples of trying not to accumulate [matches] but people have to play because we don’t have other players. I cannot put four or five other kids all together in the fire; I cannot do that to the kids.

“I don’t think Paul has the conditions to play; we will let him be completely free to come back when he thinks he is ready to be back.

“[Martial] didn’t play against Celta because the options were different but he is fine and he is one of the guys that it is very important for him to play 90 minutes. Smalling, Jones, Mata – it is very important for them to play 90 minutes.”

So it looks like we should expect some ‘interesting’ sides from United against Southampton and Crystal Palace as Mourinho looks to get his squad in tip-top shape to face Ajax.

Youngsters Joel Pereira, Axel Tuanzebe, Demi Mitchell and Scott McTominay could also be drafted in to the squad after not being involved with the reserves against Tottenham yesterday.

However, United will continue to be without Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw and Ashley Young for the rest of the season due to long-term injuries.