Mourinho faces up to crisis
JOSE FACING INJURY CRISIS AHEAD OF PALACE CLASH
UNITED could be missing a host of first-team players for tomorrow’s clash with Crystal Palace.
Anthony Martial limped off during the second half of their Champions League thrashing of CSKA Moscow.
United travelled to Russia without Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini and Phil Jones, as well as Antonio Valencia – although it is believed the Ecuadorian was rested for the trip.
Paul Pogba is out until next month at the earliest with a hamstring injury, while Marcos Rojo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are continuing to recover from their long-term knee injuries.
Mourinho gave a succinct update on United’s injury situation but did not clarify how serious Martial’s knock was.
“Carrick has no chance,” Mourinho said. “I think Jones I have many doubts. And Fellaini I have a hope, just a hope.”
United captain Carrick has made just one appearance this season in the Carabao Cup but Fellaini started the last two Premier League matches and was named man of the match in the opening Champions League win over Basel.
Mourinho revealed Jones was playing with an ankle problem last month and the England centre-half has not figured in any of United’s midweek matches this season.
The Reds switched to a back three against CSKA Moscow following the spate of injuries and Victor Lindelof could make his Premier League debut if he is retained against basement club Palace.
ROY Keane insists United are back – and have signed a ‘bargain’ in Romelu Lukaku.
United battered CSKA Moscow 4-1 on Wednesday night to clinch successive Champions League wins, and could return to the Premier League summit with victory over Crystal Palace tomorrow - if only for a short time.
Jose Mourinho’s side have scored four goals in five games already this season and come up against the league’s worst defence in basement club Palace.
Lukaku has scored 10 goals in nine matches, which is one better than Sir Bobby Charlton’s record after the same number of appearances for the club.
“United are back,” Keane said. “They look like they could be ready to win the big trophies, whereas over the last year or two you look at them and think they might win a League Cup or the so-called lesser trophies.
“They are back now competing and you would expect United to be in the latter stages of the Champions League and you would expect them to be competing to win the Premier League.”
When asked about Lukaku, Keane added: “He is a good player, at a good age in 24 and he was a bargain at £75m.
“He was always going to score goals in the Premier League, speaks well and comes across as a decent character.
“The top United scorers have scored goals that really matter down the years and he has to deliver in the big games.
“It’s to score when your team are 1-0 or 2-0 up, but you need to do it in the crunch games.”