Jose outlines his plans for Rashford and Pogba

When it was suggested to the manager that England international Rashford could be loaned out next season to gain more experience, Jose was understandably adamant that particular theory has no grounds. The youngster looks set to play a big part at the World Cup finals and, if he appears at the London Stadium, none of his United team-mates will have been involved in more United matches this term.

It will represent a half-century of outings for the Academy product, matching Romelu Lukaku's tally of 50 games during the injured striker's debut campaign. Rashford only lost his ever-present status during January's defeat at Tottenham Hotspur, when he was ready to come on before fellow substitute Marouane Fellaini sustained an injury, forcing a tactical rethink.

The no.19 has also featured in 102 of the club's 117 competitive games, as both a starter and a substitute, since Mourinho became manager in the summer of 2016 - more than any other United player. 

"No," the boss asserted, when pressed on any benefits of loaning Rashford out. "What does he need to do to impress me? He impresses me. That's the reason why he was selected for every match of the season, absolutely every match of the season and that's why he played in so many of them, so he doesn't need to leave to play. He doesn't need anything."

Even though the season is still to finish, newspaper reports are already speculating about transfer business across Europe's big leagues and one question was posed directly relating to reported interest in midfield star Pogba.

"I think he's going to be here next season," stressed Jose. "That's my feeling.

"I can give the guarantee that I don't want him to leave. I can give you the guarantee that the club doesn't want to sell him and I can give you the guarantee that we don't have any approach from him, from his agent or from any club. So, in this moment, for me, he's staying."

West Ham v United kicks off at 19:45 BST on Thursday.