|
Jose Mourinho has confirmed Eric Bailly, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Luke Shaw will all miss Manchester United's Premier League trip to West Bromwich Albion, but Chris Smalling is fit to return. Smalling has not featured since the 4-0 defeat against Chelsea on Oct. 23 because of a broken toe. And although Bailly limped out of the 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Wednesday with a knock to his knee, Mourinho said the defender's injury "doesn't look as serious as we first thought." Mourinho added in his MUTV interview: "Normally we hope to have him back for the Christmas period." Zlatan Ibrahimovic will face West Brom, but Mourinho confirmed he is managing the veteran striker carefully and plans to give him time off over Christmas. "He is doing phenomenal," Mourinho said. "Tomorrow he is going to play again, then one week to rest. "He will play again tomorrow but he cannot play 60 matches. I must give him a rest. Now and again I find a way to." Mkhitaryan left the pitch on a stretcher during the 1-0 win against Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday, but Mourinho has already said he hopes to have the Armenia international back for the Boxing Day game against Sunderland. Meanwhile, Shaw is still not over a groin problem that has seen him sidelined since the EFL Cup win against West Ham on Nov. 30.
|
