Jose Mourinho says Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney is available for selection again, having not played since the start of March.
The striker has been out injured for the last few weeks, but Mourinho confirmed on Friday that Rooney is in contention to play against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
Mourinho spoke to MUTV about the fitness of Antonio Valencia and Marcos Rojo following their exertions for their countries during the international break and revealed: “They are not with injuries that stop them to play. Tired? Yes, of course but ready to try to help us.”
The boss was also asked about the fitness of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones after injuries forced the pair to pull out of England duty and the prognosis seems less positive, with Mourinho admitting: “They are long-term injuries.
“The important ones are the ones who are ready to play,” he continued. “That’s the way we have to think, we cannot be here crying or speaking about the players that are not available to play.
“You know about Zlatan [Ibrahimovic] and [Ander] Herrera, they are suspended. You know that Herrera has two matches banned for that episode against Chelsea. You know what happened in the English national team with Smalling and Jones. You know that we have also [Paul] Pogba injured.
“But I repeat they’re not important. The important players are the ones that are ready to play, and the ones I trust, and the ones who are going to give everything tomorrow to try to keep us in the fight for the top four.”
