MANCHESTER UNITED received a major injury boost after Paul Pogba and Phil Jones both reported for training today ahead of their Europa League semi-final.
United have been hit by a crippling fitness crisis after Eric Bailly and Luke Shaw became the latest players to be struck down by injury.
Paul Pogba reported for first team training after missing the draw against Swansea through injury
Shaw’s season looks to be over after scans revealed he has suffered ligament damagein his foot, while United are still waiting to discover the extent of Bailly’s problem.
Jose Mourinho’s side are already without Marcos Rojo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic with long-term injuries while Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Chris Smalling are still on the treatment table.
That has left the United boss with a major selection problem as he prepares his team for their Europa League trip to Celta Vigo on Thursday.
But as the players reported back for training after enjoying a day off yesterday, there was the welcome sight of Pogba and Jones reporting for duty.
Midfielder Pogba was forced to miss Sunday’s disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Swansea after suffering a muscle strain in the Manchester derby against City.
While Jones has been absent since suffering an ankle injury while on international duty with England in March.
His return could not have come at a better time for Mourinho, who had been facing the prospect of taking on Celta with five first team defenders absent.
His options are so limited Michael Carrick has been considered to switch to play in central defence against the Spaniards alongside Daley Blind.
Should Jones come through training safely over the next two days he could be thrown straight back into the starting line-up in Spain on Thursday.
Mourinho’s side is facing a nightmare run of fixtures which will see them play six times in just 17 days, and United can ill-afford any more injuries.
But the club also know Champions League qualification for next season rests on them either finishing in the top four in the Premier League or winning the Europa League.
And that means Mourinho's side cannot afford any slip-ups in the final few weeks of the season with so much at stake.
