ROO BACK IN THE RUNNING
Jose SOS to Rooney who can add to his 86 minutes game time in 11 weeks
JOSE MOURINHO has issued an SOS call to Wayne Rooney in what could be his last act for Manchester United.
Mourinho admits United are “in trouble” because of their crippling injury list and Marcos Rojo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have become their latest crocks.
Rooney was an unused substitute in Thursday’s Europa League win over Anderlecht, having played just 86 minutes since the beginning of February.
Mourinho feels now is the time for Rooney to step up for United, despite his loss of form and the toll injuries have taken on him.
Rooney, 31, has made just nine Premier League starts as he has become a peripheral figure and is expected to leave in the summer. Mourinho insists he can still play a key role for United in their twin bids to reach the Champions League because he is such a strong character.
“He has a good mentality, he’s a fighter,” said the United boss. “He’s a strong man, even if he’s not in the best condition, even if he’s not in the level of sharpness you need to play high-level football, but he has the experience and character, so he has to.
“We need absolutely everyone. Now I even have to think of Axel Tuanzebe, who has to go to the under-20 World Cup in Korea, because we need everyone.”
Mourinho says United are in desperate shape going into tomorrow’s testing trip to homespecialists Burnley. Rojo’s knee injury has left him with Eric Bailly as his only recognised fit centre-half.
“We’re in trouble,” said the Portuguese. “Eric Bailly has played six matches in a row and we have lost Rojo.
“We don’t have Jones or Smalling, and now we lose Zlatan too.
“But in attack, we have options and Rooney is coming, and let’s see if Juan Mata can also return before the end of the season.”
Mourinho will bring back Ander Herrera and Ashley Young to face Burnley and he displayed some black humour by quipping: “That’s it. There’s no one else to play!”
A big plus is Marcus Rashford’s return to goalscoring form and the 19-year-old England striker netted the extra-time winner against Anderlecht to take his tally to three in his last four games and 10 in total.
Mourinho has big hopes for Rashford and claims it would make “no sense” for England to take him to the Under-21 European Championship in Poland in June.
He feels Rashford has proved he belongs with Gareth Southgate’s senior squad.
“I just feel that when a player reaches a certain level, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to drop levels,” said Mourinho.
“It’s like now I’m going to play him in the Under-23s to win, let’s say, a derby against Man City? Would I do that? No.
“But the power is in their hands.”