Jose Mourinho has given us an update on injuries and the strength of his squad for Manchester United's penultimate Premier League match against West Ham United.
Jose confirmed that Marouane Fellaini and Romelu Lukaku are injured and will not be available, adding that the latter will also miss the Reds’ final Premier League game of the season against Watford on Sunday, on his 25th birthday. However, the manager is hopeful his top goalscorer will be fit for the Emirates FA Cup final against his former club Chelsea on 19 May.
Lukaku's Belgian compatriot Fellaini started last week’s 1-0 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion but has a muscular problem and won’t be involved against the Hammers. But, in more positive news, Mourinho also said that Phil Jones and Alexis Sanchez will return, after the pair missed the defeat at the Amex Stadium through injury.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the game at the London Stadium, the boss said: “In terms of injuries, it’s Lukaku and Fellaini. They are the two players who are not available for tomorrow [Thursday]. [Phil] Jones is back, Sanchez is back and there are no more problems.”
He went on: “Lukaku will not play in the last league game of the season. Fellaini might – it is a muscular problem. We will wait and see.”
The boss also confirmed that captain Michael Carrick will start against Watford, for what will be his Old Trafford finale before retiring at the end of the season.
“He [Carrick] will start the last match at Old Trafford, the last match of the Premier League,”
he said. “Our captain, in front of our fans, he will start the match against Watford.”
Jose Mourinho has never lost a Premier League game against David Moyes, winning seven and drawing four.
The Hammers, managed by former United boss David Moyes, currently have a lengthy injury list, with a number of players sidelined.
Former Reds striker Javier Hernandez (knee), Michail Antonio and James Collins (both hamstring), Winston Reid and Pedro Obiang (both knee-ligament damage) and Sam Byram (ankle) are all absent.
On-loan Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart (illness) and the club’s Player of the Year Marko Arnautovic (knock) could return but are rated as doubtful.