United burdened by fatigue

LONDON

MAURICIO Pochettino is hoping for a surge up the Premier League table now he is close to being able to unleash his strongest Tottenham team on surprise packages Burnley.

Spurs dropped to seventh in the Premier League table following last week’s 4-1 drubbing at leaders Manchester City, their second defeat in five league games.

That put them back below Burnley, who they visit today evening.

Tottenham could overtake their hosts with a win against Sean Dyche’s team, and put pressure on fourth-placed Liverpool and Arsenal, who are fifth.

Defender Davinson Sanchez is back following a three-match ban and Pochettino is hopeful that two more key men — Toby Alderweireld and Victor Wanyama — can also feature in a busy period that sees Spurs host Southampton on Dec 26 before clashes with Swansea and West Ham.

Alderweireld is set to return from the hamstring injury he suffered against Real Madrid in November MANCHESTER: Jose Mourinho will go into Manchester United's holiday programme without the experience of Antonio Valencia, Marouane Fellaini and Michael Carrick as his squad battles fatigue following a midweek League Cup loss to Bristol City.

United, kicking off the congested festive fixtures with a visit to Leicester City, will also be without central defender Eric Bailly, who underwent surgery on an ankle problem yesterday and is out for two to three months.

The club had hoped the other three injury victims might be able to play some role in a period that sees United face five games in 14 days.

But the short-term fitness problems have been compounded by the club’s travel woes after Wednesday's League Cup quarter-final shock at Bristol City.

The team's private plane was grounded by fog and United were forced to take a bus back to Manchester, and did not arrive until 5am the next morning.

Even players who had been on the bench at Ashton Gate, such as Juan Mata and Chris Smalling, were affected by the lengthy journey time and sleep disruption.

“Because the ones that did travel, even some who did not play, arrived back in Manchester close to 5am. People like Mata or Smalling, who were on the bench, had to travel back.” said Mourinho.

Meanwhile, the English Football Association said Thursday that Mourinho will face no sanctions following an investigation of comments he made before the recent Manchester derby.

The FA said it has decided to take “no formal action” after reviewing evidence provided by Mourinho’s club Manchester United, understood to be relating to suggestions that Manchester City players make “tactical fouls” to break up opponents’ attacks.

However it “reminded Jose Mourinho any further public comments about match officials may result in disciplinary action.” AFP