Manchester United hope Paul Pogba will be fit for Sevilla clash as Jose Mourinho sweats over injuries

Pogba was conspicuous by his absence on Saturday given the week had been dominated by speculation over his relationship with Mourinho

Monday 19 February 2018 11:48 GMT
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Jose Mourinho was forced to shuffle his pack
Jose Mourinho was forced to shuffle his pack (Getty)

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Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is having to juggle a range of injuries at a "crucial moment" of the campaign.

The Red Devils secured safe passage to the FA Cup quarter-finals by winning 2-0 at Huddersfield, kicking off a crunch run of games.

Mourinho's former club Chelsea arrive in the Premier League on Sunday, after Wednesday's Champions League last-16 first leg at Sevilla, with the United boss sweating on several injury issues ahead of the games.

"I didn't rest one single player, so we had every player available here," the United boss said after winning at the John Smith's Stadium on Saturday.

"I brought two kids (Ethan Hamilton and Angel Gomes) that played 90 minutes yesterday (for the under-23s) because I don't have another player.

"Can we recover some of them for Wednesday? I believe so. (Marcus) Rashford, (Ander) Herrera, (Antonio) Valencia, I think they have a chance. Paul (Pogba), I don't know.

"Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones, Marouane (Fellaini), Zlatan (Ibrahimovic) - I don't think they have any chance, so we arrive at this crucial moment with some problem. But I think mentality is very important. And we have a strong team, strong bonding, strong team mentality. We know it is a very difficult match - but we go for it."

Angel Gomes played for the U23s before the FA Cup tie
Angel Gomes played for the U23s before the FA Cup tie (Getty)

David De Gea is set to return to the fold at Sevilla having been rested at Huddersfield, where Daley Blind was also absent as he recovers from injury.

Pogba was conspicuous by his absence for the FA Cup tie given the week had been dominated by speculation over his relationship with Mourinho.

United took the unusual step of confirming he would miss out through illness hours before the match and Nemanja Matic hopes Pogba is back to face Sevilla, despite the team coping without him in West Yorkshire.

"He is an important player for us, this club, but he is ill, and I think that we in the midfield did a great job," Serbia international Matic said.

David De Gea was rested
David De Gea was rested (Getty)

"Michael (Carrick) is an amazing player, even at 36 he ran a lot, and Scott (McTominay) played amazing.

"I am not sure what has happened, I think he (Pogba) was ill and didn't feel very well this morning, so I hope he will be ready for the next game."

United still managed to send out a strong line-up despite their injury issues, with Romelu Lukaku capping a fine display with a match-winning double.

"He is very important for us," Matic said. "He is our first striker and he is very important to us.

Paul Pogba was another to miss out
Paul Pogba was another to miss out (Getty)

"It's very important for his confidence that he is scoring goals and he is a great striker, very strong and he is still young, I am sure he will be important for us until the end of the season.

"You have to ask him how he feels. I am happy we have him in the team. He scored two goals and the striker is there to score and he did exactly that."

That clinical finishing was enough to beat hard-working Huddersfield, whose goalkeeper Jonas Lossl hopes to build on recent displays at embattled West Brom next weekend as the Terriers target Premier League survival.

"This is the cup and it is about winning and going through, so it was not a success," Lossl said.

"But we played a very, very good game and we have to be proud of that.

"We have to bring that on and I am sure if we're going to play like this in the last 11 games we stand a good chance."

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