Thursday, November 3, 2016

Mourinho may use Jones in Turkey/Phil Jones could feature for Manchester United against Fenerbahce

Phil Jones [ far left] is among the United players relaxing ahead of Europa League duty

 Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho says Phil Jones may be in the line-up for Thursday night's Europa League clash at Fenerbahce.

The 24-year-old England international has not played yet this season but he has now returned to fitness.

And, with United short of numbers at the back, Jones may go straight into the starting line-up for the tricky Group A tie.

Mourinho says he is pleased to have Jones available again and says it is a shame the player has been so unfortunate with injuries.

" I can't remember when Phil Jones had a good run of matches for united, "  said the Portuguese boss.

" I remember when I was at Real Madrid in about 2012, I played against Man United and Phil Jones played then.

" I don't remember many occasions after that when Phil was ready. He's having a difficult relationship with injuries and it's been a difficult period for him.

" He has worked hard to recover, he has been training with the team for more than a week.

" We lost three defenders in a week in [Antonio] Valencia, [Eric] Bailly and [Chris] Smalling, and because of that we do not have enough time to give him, for him to get into good condition.

" Maybe we have to play him." 

United lost their Europa League opener in Feyenoord but have bounced back with home wins over FC Zorya Luhansk and Fenerbahce.

Mourinho added: " The problem we had in Feyenoord we resolved by winning the next two matches and by putting ourselves in a positive position in the group.

" If we had not won the next two matches we would be in trouble, but, no, our reaction was to win the next two matches at home, which we did.

" By having six points out of six from the home matches we have put ourselves in a positive in the group." 






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