Eric Bailly and Phil Jones are set to miss another game for Manchester United, who host Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Manchester United will be bidding to return to winning ways after a disappointing midweek Champions League result when they host Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday. Ahead of the game at Old Trafford, nothing much has changed for Jose Mourinho, as far as injuries are concerned.
While there are no fresh injuries for the Manchester United manager, he continues to remain without first-choice centre-backs Eric Bailly (groin) and Phil Jones (thigh), with no specific time stamps on their return.
Mourinho touched upon Jones and Bailly’s situations in his pre-match press conference while also speaking in glowing terms about Marcos Rojo, who officially completed his return from a long-term knee injury on Wednesday. The manager also confirmed that the Argentine is likely to be involved once again.
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“Bailly and Jones – they are out, but we are okay because we have Smalling, Rojo and Lindelof. We gave him [Rojo] a better condition and, when we put him in the Champions League match, he was really ready. So 90 minutes, no problem, no reaction from the knee, confidence in his game, a good, solid performance. It’s very good to have him back.”
Mourinho also confirmed that both Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic should feature once again on Saturday. While Pogba will start once again, Ibrahimovic will have to make do with another stint off the bench as their game times continue to be managed following their returns from their respective injuries.
“Paul is still on this process where he cannot reach the fatigue limit. He cannot go more than 65 to 70 minutes because that’s when fatigue normally arrives and, with so many matches consecutively, we need to protect such an important player for us.”
“I prefer him [Zlatan] on the pitch than off the pitch. On the pitch, he’s another option for us and he’s an option of quality. But he needs time. We managed to give him 15/20 minutes in both matches, he needs more of that, so hopefully, tomorrow, we play him again.”
Brighton boss Chris Hughton, on the other hand, has no fresh injury concerns either, with Steve Sidwell (back) the only absentee. Israeli midfielder Beram Kayal has completed his recovery from a broken leg and is a part of the traveling squad.
