Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho says he will wait until the last minute to pick his team to play Arsenal as he faces the prospect of lining up with just three fit defenders.
Marcos Rojo, Matteo Darmian and Diogo Dalot — who have made two Premier League starts between them this season — are the only defenders certain to be available to play Unai Emery’s side at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
“Against Southampton, three hours before the game I didn’t know the team I was going to play,” said Mourinho, who was forced to pick midfielders Nemanja Matic and Scott McTominay in defence during the 2-2 draw at St Mary’s.
“Nobody knew the team and ourselves we didn’t know yet. We were waiting to see who could and couldn’t [play] and I think we are going to be in a similar situation.
“If you asked me at 11 a.m. [on Tuesday] I would say Smalling is not playing, Bailly is not playing, Jones is not playing.
“Of course, Lindelof is out of the question. Valencia is not playing, Shaw is a doubt, Darmian is back but I have to wait and maybe we decide like the last match a couple of hours before the game.”
United face Arsenal sitting seventh in the table, 16 points behind leaders Manchester City and eight adrift of the top four. (ESPN)