Man Utd Boss Confirms Injury Blow As Key Man Ruled Out Of Newcastle Clash

Jose Mourinho has expressed his frustration at Phil Jones being ruled out of this weekend’s clash with Newcastle after aggravating a thigh injury while away with England, according to the Mirror.

Jones was allowed to link-up with the England squad last week despite carrying a niggling thigh injury that’s hampered the centre-back over the past few weeks.

The 25-year-old first felt the problem after being forced off during United’s 2-1 defeat to Huddersfield Town last month but he returned to play the full ninety minutes against Tottenham the following week.

Jones was then left out of the squad for United’s Champions League victory over Benfica but was back in the starting eleven to face Chelsea before the international break.

The defender was once again withdrawn midway through the second half during the defeat at Stamford Bridge but Mourinho still allowed his player to report for England duty – something he now regrets.

Gareth Southgate started Jones during the Three Lions’ friendly with Germany on Friday night but the United centre-back limped off in the 25th minute after aggravating his thigh injury.

Mourinho has now confirmed Jones won’t be available to face Newcastle on Saturday but questioned why he was even risked by his country when he was clearly carrying an injury.

The United boss also suggests he was ‘naive’ to allow Jones to link-up with England when other managers withdraw their players from international duty due to minor problems.

Tottenham trio Harry Kane, Harry Winks and Dele Alli all pulled out of the England squad while Man City duo Raheem Sterling and Fabian Delph also returned to their club with minor knocks.

Danny Drinkwater wasn’t even prepared to accept his call-up because he wanted to stay with Chelsea to work on his fitness rather than represent his country, and Mourinho suggests the majority of these players will turn out for their clubs this weekend.

Mourinho told the Mirror:

“I don’t think it is possible for a player with a problem to play in a friendly. Of course, Phil Jones had a problem. He was having a problem for three weeks, he’s having problems that are stopping him to play for his club and then he plays for his club in extreme conditions [in their final match before the internationals] because it’s a big match against Chelsea.

“And then he goes to the national team and he comes home with an ongoing injury that everyone knows is an ongoing injury.”

“You have always some clubs where their players, they have always have something. It could be a fingernail, he has a little flu, he has a problem with the little toe, and they withdraw, and they stay with their clubs and they have their holidays and they have their rest.

“Then, there are always the clubs where the mangers are naive (holding up his hand to say ‘me’), too pure and they say you have to go and they go and sometimes they pay the price and they pay the price.

“I want to see this next weekend if the players that were not going to the national team, I want to see if they are going to play. Drinkwater? Delph? The only one that is not playing is Phil Jones.”

Mourinho is clearly frustrated at Jones not being looked after by England and his absence will be a blow this weekend as Jones has started every Premier League game so far this season.

Chris Smalling is now expected to come in to partner Eric Bailly at the back against Newcastle on Saturday.