Injury Update On Smalling & Mkhitaryan

Jose Mourinho has confirmed Chris Smalling was substituted during Manchester United’s 4-1 win over Fenerbahce due to a minor injury, although the manager had some positive news with the update that Henrikh Mkhitaryan will soon be ready to make his comeback.

Smalling started the comfortable Europa League victory at Old Trafford alongside centre-back partner Eric Bailly, but the England international was replaced by Marcos Rojo at half-time.

Speaking to MUTV after the final whistle, Mourinho detailed a slight injury for Smalling but remained optimistic that he could face Chelsea on Sunday. “He had a bad muscular feeling,” the boss told us. “We were 3-0 up so we decided to change. Hopefully he can recover for the weekend."

Mkhitaryan has not featured for the Reds since the Manchester derby on 10 September and returned to training earlier this week. The Armenia captain was left out of the squad to face Fenerbahce, however, and the manager explained exactly why in his post-match press conference.

“The situation is that we played with Lingard, with Mata and Martial,” Mourinho told reporters. “I am not an Einstein, I don't know a tactical system to play with four wingers at the same time. He has to work more to get the intensity and the real fitness to play at the high level.

“To have him here tonight on the bench and to give him 15 to 20 minutes, like I did with Memphis, I thought it would be better for him to work the way he did yesterday and much harder, obviously.

“I thought it would be much better for him to work today, like he did in the specific session, than to wait for his chance. But he is ready. He is ready very soon.”