Manchester United v Zorya Luhansk: Jose Mourinho provides team news for Europa League clash

Mourinho has confirmed summer signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan will not feature against Zorya Luhanks.

Luke Shaw
Luke Shaw will miss the clash against Zorya Luhansk due to illness Reuters

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed defender Luke Shaw and summer signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan will not feature for the Red Devils in their Europa League clash against Zorya Luhansk on 29 September.

The England international last featured for the 20-time English champions in their 3-1 defeat to Watford, while the former Borussia Dortmund playmaker has been on the sidelines since United's defeat at the hands of Manchester City on 10 September.

Mourinho revealed Shaw was ill and that is why he was sent back home from training in order to make sure his virus does not spread to the other players in the squad. He also confirmed Anthony Martial has recovered from injury and is fit to face the Ukrainian outfit.

"He's ill. He has a temperature, a fever, a bad throat and he arrived this morning and immediately the doctor sent him home because one player like this in the middle of the other ones can affect others so he went home," Mourinho explained, as quoted by United's official website.

On Martial, the Red Devils boss said: "He has now recovered from the contusion in his calf and in his ankle. He has recovered and is ready for tomorrow."

Wayne Rooney was dropped to the bench in United's last league win over Leicester City. The England international's performance has been criticised and when asked if his captain would feature against Luhansk, Mourinho admitted he has a decision to make as the former Everton man is not fully fit for the midweek tie.

"Wayne Rooney is selected. I haven't decided yet if I start with him. He didn't train yesterday, he did just a little bit of the session on Monday," the former Real Madrid and Chelsea manager stressed.

"He had a back problem so today [Wednesday] was the first time that he had a training session with the other players and today is the training session where the intensity and the complexity is obviously reduced because we have a game tomorrow.

"So I was completely convinced of playing him tomorrow from the beginning, but with this situation in the last couple of days I am not sure I'll do that. Because with the situation that you create for him I think he really can't afford to have a performance that is not really good.

"I am here to protect him and not to put him in difficult situations. I have to analyse if the best thing for him is to start the game and if he is not totally ready for it. So I am going to discuss that with him and the medical staff and decide if he starts or if he is on the bench."

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