<
>

Manchester United problems increase with Ander Herrera and Eric Bailly injuries

DETROIT -- Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is without 17 players as his preseason problems continue to grow.

Mourinho already has a number of senior players either injured or on holiday after the World Cup, with Ander Herrera and Eric Bailly now doubts for United's final International Champions Cup game against Real Madrid in Miami on Tuesday.

Sources have told ESPN FC that Herrera picked up an ankle knock during the 4-1 defeat to Liverpool in Michigan on Saturday, while Bailly suffered a similar problem during the victory over AC Milan in Los Angeles last week.

Bailly had to start against Liverpool, despite not being on the teamsheet published an hour before kickoff, after Chris Smalling picked up an injury during the warmup.

Luke Shaw missed the game to extend an injury list that already includes Nemanja Matic, Antonio Valencia, Marcos Rojo, Diogo Dalot and Sergio Romero.

Sources told ESPN FC that Matic has undergone surgery on an abdominal injury and returned to Manchester to begin his recovery.

Goalkeeper David De Gea and midfielder Fred have now linked up with the squad but Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku, Marouane Fellaini, Ashley Young, Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford, Phil Jones and Victor Lindelof are not in the U.S. after taking time off following the World Cup.

Mourinho had been banking on starting the Premier League season with a back four of Valencia, Shaw, Bailly and Smalling, but all are now injured or carrying knocks, throwing his preparations into disarray ahead of the home game against Leicester on Aug. 10.

Mourinho was frustrated following the loss to Liverpool, hitting out at Anthony Martial and Antonio Valencia in a postmatch interview with MUTV and criticising United's lack of transfer activity.

The United boss questioned why Martial, who wants to leave, had not returned to the U.S. following the birth of his son and suggested Valencia had come back to preseason training out of shape before suffering a calf injury and going home.

In Michigan on Saturday, Mourinho repeated his demand for two new players to arrive before the transfer deadline on Aug. 9 but said he could have to settle for one or none at all in an apparent dig at executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.

He also questioned why American fans would pay to watch preseason games when he has had to field reserve teams.