Marcos Rojo and Luke Shaw are surprise members of the travelling squad as Manchester United prepare to face SL Benfica on Wednesday.
Manchester United will be bidding to continue their perfect run in the UEFA Champions League when they travel to Estadio da Luz to face Benfica on Wednesday. Jose Mourinho’s roster issues are easing up with each passing game, but the Portuguese manager continues to remain without five key first-team players.
Eric Bailly (groin) and Michael Carrick (calf) are yet to recover from their minor fitness issues, with no set date stamped for their return. But, Paul Pogba (hamstring) and Marouane Fellaini (knee) have stepped up recoveries from their respective injuries and are nearing their return to action.
Meanwhile, Zlatan Ibrahimovic (knee) is a long-term absentee and will only be available in December. The positive news though, surrounds the inclusion of Marcos Rojo and Luke Shaw in the Manchester United traveling squad.
Mourinho says Rojo still short of ? fitness. 2 more weeks until he is back. pic.twitter.com/M63R7gvg57
— SemperFiUnited (@SemperFiUnited) October 17, 2017
While Shaw is in contention to feature on Wednesday, Rojo has only travelled to train with the squad, although Mourinho informed in his pre-match press conference that the Argentinean defender will return to action in two weeks’ time, well ahead of schedule.
“Rojo is not coming to play but he is coming with the team to train today with the group. Tomorrow, individually, but he’s coming [back]. I would say, probably in two weeks, Marcos is ready to play. There is no Bailly – he was injured in the national team.”
Marcus Rashford has shrugged off a knock that prevented him from starting against Liverpool on the weekend and is likely to start in Lisbon. At the back, Victor Lindelof should continue at the heart of the Manchester United defence, as he has in the Champions League so far this season, with Phil Jones likely to be rested.
Meanwhile, Rui Vitoria has no injury concerns to deal with ahead of Wednesday’s encounter, with the likes of Jonas, Julio Cesar and Eliseu fit and available. However, Andre Almeida will miss the match due to suspension, having been given his marching orders in the 5-0 disaster show at Basel on Matchday 2.
