Man Utd Team News: Mourinho Confirms Triple Boost + 30-Year-Old To Face Derby

Manchester United will be hoping to book their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup when they entertain Derby County at Old Trafford on Friday night.

Ahead of the game, Jose Mourinho has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference this afternoon and he’s provided the latest team and injury news.

The United boss was pleased to confirm a huge boost with the news that Romelu Lukaku is back in contention to face Derby after recovering from a head injury.

Lukaku missed the win at Everton on New Year’s Day after taking a heavy blow to the head during United’s draw with Southampton at Old Trafford last weekend.

The Belgian international was substituted during the first half of the game but Mourinho insists the striker didn’t suffer concussion and his omission against Everton was simply precautionary.

Therefore, Lukaku has been passed fit and available for selection for the FA Cup third round tie and is expected to start up front with Anthony Martial making way.

In a double boost, Mourinho has also confirmed that Marouane Fellaini is back in contention after recovering from a knee injury that’s kept him out in recent weeks.

The United boss also revealed that Michael Carrick is back in training as the midfielder looks to make his comeback having been diagnosed with a heart condition but the Derby game will come too soon.

Sergio Romero is a confirmed starter in goal as David De Gea will be rested tomorrow night while Antonio Valencia is expected to be fit to face Stoke next Monday after missing the last three games due to a hamstring injury.

Mourinho told ManUtd.com:

“Romelu is back, Romelu is back. As I said it was not a concussion, it was a precaution, a protection for him. He wanted to play against Everton, but this time he is back.”

“I’m going to play Romero because Romero is a top, top goalkeeper and he deserves to play, David deserves a rest and Romero’s going to be the Argentina goalkeeper in the World Cup in a few months, so for all what Romero means to us, Romero plays and I am going to play what I consider to be a very strong team.”

“From the injured players, Fellaini is back. And Michael Carrick is back to training, not to competition, but is back to training with the team. Antonio Valencia will be back to the team next week so he is not playing tomorrow but will be back to the team next week. The situation is improving for us.”

It will come as a big boost for United to have Lukaku and Fellaini available again and with Valencia and Carrick also on the comeback trail it looks like United’s injury woes are easing.

However, United will continue to be without Zlatan Ibrahimovic as the striker is expected to be out for the rest of the month after aggravating a knee injury while Eric Bailly is also on the sidelines following ankle surgery.