Manchester United defender Phil Jones to be fit for derby clash with Manchester City... but Eric Bailly is out

  • Manchester United host local rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford on Sunday
  • Defender Phil Jones is available for selection after recovering from thigh injury
  • Eric Bailly will not play, while Marouane Fellaini faces a late fitness test 
  • Manager Jose Mourinho also revealed: 'Nemanja Matic is injured but he plays'

Phil Jones is available for Manchester United in the Old Trafford derby on Sunday, but Eric Bailly is out and Marouane Fellaini faces a late fitness test.

Jones is set to face Manchester City having not played for United since the defeat at Chelsea on November 5 after aggravating a thigh injury for England against Germany.


Bailly was also hurt on international duty for Ivory Coast and has not recovered sufficiently from a groin injury to be in contention, but Nemanja Matic plays despite a muscle injury.

Jose Mourinho has revealed that Phil Jones will be fit for Sunday's Manchester derby with City

Jose Mourinho has revealed that Phil Jones will be fit for Sunday's Manchester derby with City

The Manchester United boss confirmed that Eric Bailly has not recovered from a groin injury

The Manchester United boss confirmed that Eric Bailly has not recovered from a groin injury

Fellaini has been struggling with a knee injury and Jose Mourinho will be hopeful the Belgian is fit to maximise United’s height advantage over their neighbours.

Announcing his team news, Mourinho said: ‘Zlatan (Ibrahimovic) is available, Jones is available, Fellaini I have to wait until tomorrow.

'(Michael) Carrick is not available, Bailly is not available. Matic is injured but he plays.’ 

Asked to sum up the importance of the derby, Mourinho added: ‘To me, it means one more big match against one of the best teams in the country, the first against the second. Big match.

'Carrick is not available, Bailly is not available. Matic is injured but he plays,’ Mourinho revealed

'Carrick is not available, Bailly is not available. Matic is injured but he plays,’ Mourinho revealed

‘I live a little bit isolated from society, I don't feel it so much. It's about training ground and the hotel. My day off after CSKA Moscow, went home so I really don't have that communication, but I don't need that to know a derby is something special for the people.

‘For us, it’s three points but for the people born in the city and feeling the colours in that good, positive rivalry it’s a special match.’

The United boss expressed hope that the game passes off peacefully after both clubs came together in support of the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing in May.

Marouane Fellaini (right) will face a late fitness test ahead of the Old Trafford clash on Sunday

Marouane Fellaini (right) will face a late fitness test ahead of the Old Trafford clash on Sunday

‘These are the beautiful things that football can do. We could feel in that period that the clubs were ready to work together for the city, that's no doubt. It would be really sad if that was not the case.

‘Now this is a football match, an important football match where I wish everything goes well in relation to the fans. If taken in the right way, the derby is a beautiful thing; same city, different colours, friends support different colours, even under the same roof some families disagree on the passion of the colours.

‘f taken in the right thing is a beautiful thing. I hope before the game you have a city full of colour, red and blue, and after the game, the same.’ 

 

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.