Jose Mourinho has admitted that three of his Manchester United players won’t be ready in time for the Premier League’s opening day.
While he busies himself in the transfer market to ensure that his side is as prepared as possible for his sophomore season in the Old Trafford dugout, the Portuguese has revealed the return dates of a United trio whose previous campaigns were cut short due to injury.
At the Europa League final in May, several of the Red Devils’ squad watched on from the Friends Arena sidelines supported by crutches.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic stole much of the spotlight but Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo and Ashley Young were all forced to rely on crutches as they took to the pitch to celebrate their teammates’ 2-0 victory over Ajax in Stockholm.
Rojo suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in April, Young underwent groin surgery before the end of the season and Shaw picked up a foot injury.
And none of the so-called “Rehab Gang” will be back in time to be in consideration for United’s Premier League opener, against West Ham on August 13.
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Mourinho revealed the expected return dates for the above trio during a press conference on United’s preseason tour of the United States.
“No chance for the beginning of the Premier League,” Mourinho said. “Shaw is the first one to recover, Marcos will be the last one and Ashley in between.
“So I would say Luke September, Young October, Marcos December, even January, but it’s good to have them.
“It’s good for them to be with us, to recover with the group and I have to say the group is really strong and really together and, for them, important to be with us than working in Manchester alone.”
