Man Utd Team News: Mourinho Confirms Triple Boost But Duo To Miss Man City Game

Manchester United will be looking to cut Manchester City’s gap at the top of the Premier League table when they meet 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 offered a team news and injury update.

The United boss confirmed a triple injury boost with the news that Nemanja Matic, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Phil Jones are available to face City this weekend after returning to fitness.

Matic has been carrying a muscle problem in recent weeks and came through ninety minutes against Arsenal before missing the 2-1 comeback Champions League victory over CSKA Moscow in midweek.

Intriguingly, Mourinho has confirmed that while Matic is still considered to be ‘injured’, he still plans to start the Serbian international against City this weekend.

Ibrahimovic made his return from a serious knee injury last month and made four substitute appearances before being left out of United’s last two games due to muscle fatigue.

Jones on the other hand hasn’t featured in United’s last six games in all competitions since sustaining a thigh injury while away on international duty with England last month.

However, in a triple boost, Mourinho has confirmed that Ibrahimovic and Jones will join Matic in being available for selection against City on Sunday afternoon.

There could be further good news for United as Marouane Fellaini could also be in contention if he passes a late fitness test having missed the last two weeks with a knee injury.

However, the City game will come too soon for Eric Bailly as he’s still nursing a groin injury while Michael Carrick is also still not available for selection this weekend.

Mourinho told the Express:

“Matic is injured but he plays. Zlatan is available, Jones is available, Fellaini I have to wait until tomorrow,”

“Carrick is not available, Bailly is not available.”

Matic and Fellaini’s availability is important as Paul Pogba is due to begin his three-match suspension following his dismissal against Arsenal so Mourinho needs all the midfield options he can get.

I expect Ibrahimovic will once again be named on the bench on Sunday but he’ll be a very useful player to be able to call upon if needed while Jones will give Mourinho a selection headache in defence.

United head in to the weekend action sitting eight points adrift of City so they desperately need to close the gap by coming out victorious in the Manchester derby on Sunday afternoon.