Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed that the club may not be able to bank on the services of six first-team players ahead of Friday’s Premier League opener against Leicester City.
Speaking in a news conference, the Portuguese tactician confirmed that Sergio Romero, Nemanja Matic and summer signing are sidelined for the curtain raiser after undergoing surgeries on their respective issues.
Aside from this, Marcos Rojo remains sidelined with a knock picked up at the World Cup whilst Antonio Valencia (calf) has most-recently been joined by Ander Herrera in the treatment room after experiencing a minor hamstring concern in the final pre-season game versus Bayern Munich.
“Romero, he had a surgery after his injury before the World Cup,” Mourinho began. “Valencia, he was injured in pre-season, Marcos Rojo, he was injured in the World Cup,” he said.
“Dalot had a surgery in Porto by the end of April and not yet ready. Ander Herrera injured against Bayern. Matic injured in the World Cup and surgery in Philadelphia a couple of weeks ago. And I think that’s it.”
Meanwhile, the likes of Paul Pogba, Marouane Fellaini, Romelu Lukaku, Ashley Young and Jesse Lingard have only recently returned to training following their World Cup exploits and Mourinho has appeared to suggest that the quintet may miss the season opener.
Apart from them, Anthony Martial is another probable doubt for the game with the manager deeming him not ready after missing part of pre-season. The Frenchman missed around 10 days of pre-season for the birth of his second child and this absence is likely to cost him a starting spot ahead of Marcus Rashford.
Be the first to comment