Mourinho Reveals Bailly Is Injured

Jose Mourinho has revealed Eric Bailly was omitted from Manchester United’s starting line-up to face Newcastle United on Saturday due to injury.

Defender Bailly was a notable absentee from the XI to face the Magpies at Old Trafford in the first game after the international break, with Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof named as the centre-back pairing.

Mourinho disclosed the reason for Bailly’s absence in his pre-match interview with BT Sport and also confirmed Henrikh Mkhitaryan, another name missing from the matchday squad, was not selected for tactical reasons. Paul Pogba returned from injury, with Marcos Rojo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic named among the substitutes.

Bailly had started United’s previous three games after being sidelined for a month with an injury picked up while representing Ivory Coast. In the recent break, he was forced to sit out the Elephants’ World Cup qualifier with Morocco due to suspension, and a defeat ensured he will not be representing his country in Russia next summer.