Man Utd Injury Boost: Key Man Confident Of Being Available To Face Newcastle

Manchester United have been handed a major injury boost as Phil Jones is optimistic he’ll be available to take on Newcastle United this weekend, according to the Guardian.

Jones has been struggling with a thigh injury over the past few weeks and he was forced off midway through the first half of England’s 0-0 draw with Germany on Friday night.

Gareth Southgate suggested after the stalemate at Wembley that Jones had aggravated his old injury after being replaced by Liverpool defender Joe Gomez in the 25th minute.

The United centre-back first felt the injury when he was substituted during the 2-1 defeat at Huddersfield Town last month but he was able to play the full ninety minutes during the 1-0 victory over Tottenham the following weekend.

Jones was then not risked during the Champions League win over Benfica before being forced off once again during the 1-0 defeat to Chelsea before the international break.

The 25-year-old was able to join-up with the England squad but emerged as a doubt for the Newcastle game this weekend after limping off against Germany on Friday night.

However, the Guardian claim Jones is confident he’ll be passed fit to face the Magpies on Saturday evening after tests at Carrington revealed that the injury isn’t serious.

No doubt the news will come as a boost to Mourinho as Jones has been an important player for the United manager this season as he’s started every league game so far this term.

We’ll have to wait for Mourinho to provide a formal injury update at his pre-match press conference later this week but if Jones is passed fit then I expect we’ll see him line-up alongside Eric Bailly in the middle of defence this weekend.

United could also welcome Paul Pogba back in to the squad after he recovered from a hamstring injury that’s kept him out since September while Marcos Rojo could also be back after overcoming a knee ligament injury.

So it looks like the injury woes are easing at just the right time for United as they look to claw themselves back in to the title race after falling eight points adrift of leaders Manchester City.