Manchester United news: Eric Bailly on course for early injury return to boost Jose Mourinho's defensive options

He could be back for the December 11 game against Tottenham

Mourinho is concerned with the lack of defensive cover he has

Eric Bailly is on course to hand Jose Mourinho a much-needed boost at Manchester United by returning to action ahead of schedule next month following a knee ligament injury.

Bailly, 22, had been ruled out until the Christmas period by Mourinho after being injured during the 4-0 defeat against Chelsea at Stamford two weeks ago.

The loss of the Ivory Coast centre-half, a £30m summer signing from Villarreal, has proven to be a serious blow for United with England defender Chris Smalling also being forced onto the sidelines in recent weeks.

But it is understood that Bailly is making excellent progress in his rehabilitation and that the player is now hopeful of a return to fitness within the next month and potentially in time for the Premier League encounter with Tottenham Hotspur on December 11.

In Bailly’s absence, and with Smalling also unavailable, Mourinho has been forced to deploy two left-backs – Daley Blind and Marcos Rojo – at centre-half in a makeshift defence that is also currently without broken wrist victim Antonio Valencia and Phil Jones, who has only just returned to contention following a long-term injury lay-off.

The United manager is determined to add to his defensive options in January, with the Portuguese maintaining a strong interest in his fellow countryman, the Southampton centre-half Jose Fonte.

Mourinho had already planned to be without Bailly throughout January and early-February due to his international commitments with the Ivory Coast in the Africa Cup of Nations on Gabon.

However, with the initial prognosis suggesting the player would be out until late-December, the possibility had been raised of Bailly missing out on the Africa Cup of Nations in order to ensure he regains full fitness at Old Trafford.

A sooner-than-expected comeback with United could therefore prove a double-edged sword for Mourinho if Bailly proves his fitness in time for selection for the Ivory Coast, who travel to Gabon as the reigning African champions.

United, meanwhile, are assessing the fitness of Paul Pogba, who limped out of the Europa League defeat against Fenerbahce in Istanbul with a leg injury on Thursday evening.

Pogba is rated doubtful for Sunday’s Premier League trip to Swansea City, with Michael Carrick – rested for the trip to Turkey – set to start at the Liberty Stadium.