Key United pair may miss EFL Cup final

Mkhitaryan and Carrick classed as doubts as Red Devils progress in Europe

ST ETIENNE 0 MANCHESTER UNITED 1 (UNITED WIN 4-0 ON AGG)

Jose Mourinho expects influential Manchester United duo Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Michael Carrick to miss the EFL Cup final through injury.

Despite Wembley looming large, and boasting a 3-0 first-leg lead in St Etienne, the Portuguese picked a surprisingly strong line-up in last night’s Europa League last-32 clash.

Mkhitaryan’s deft touch secured a 1-0 win in France but progress to the last-16 draw came at a cost for United – and not just because Eric Bailly was sent off in the second half.

Match-winner Mkhitaryan limped off after 25 minutes with a hamstring issue and veteran midfielder Carrick sustained a second-half calf complaint, putting both players’ hopes of facing Southampton on Sunday in jeopardy.

“Honestly, I don’t think he is fit,” Mourinho said of Mkhitaryan.

“I think him and Michael are both out, but this is based on my experience, not based on my medical knowledge and not based on tests and what they have obviously to do tomorrow and after tomorrow. I think no chance. A calf, a hamstring, even if it is minor, minor, some fibres damaged, I think out.”

Mourinho does not believe the injuries were due to the quality of the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard pitch – “it was playable, not dangerous,” he said – and believes it was more to do with the build-up of matches.

There is little let-up on the horizon and the United boss was irked by the Football Association having already announced the FA Cup quarter-final with Chelsea will be on Monday March 13, sandwiched between their Europa League last-16 first and second legs.

Meanwhile Mauricio Pochettino says he will know within 50 seconds whether Tottenham can pull off a comeback against Gent tonight.

Spurs host the Belgian side at Wembley in the Europa League looking to overturn a 1-0 deficit from their dismal display in the first leg in Belgium last week.

A 3-0 thrashing of Fulham in the FA Cup on Sunday saw Tottenham back at full pelt, but inconsistency has been a regular feature of their form in recent weeks.

They have won three out of their last seven in all competitions and Pochettino believes his side often set the tone at the start.

“When we start a game, if you only watch 50 seconds, you don’t need to be a genius to know we may struggle and have some problems in that game,” Pochettino said.

“In that moment it’s too difficult to change. We changed the formation at half-time to try and lift them but it was impossible.”

AP. Henrikh Mkhitaryan wheels away after his 16th minute strike gave United a 4-0 advantage.