Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho gives fitness update on Marouane Fellaini and Michael Carrick

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Jose Mourinho has said that Marouane Fellaini and Michael Carrick are unlikely to play for Manchester United again until the new year ahead of Saturday's trip to Leicester City.

The pair, who sit alongside Antonio Valencia and Eric Bailly on United's current injury list, will play no part at the King Power Stadium and are expected to be out until January,

Fellaini is currently sidelined with a knee injury and has not played since a 1-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion last month.

The Belgian was in contention to play in the Manchester derby earlier this month only for Mourinho to omit him from his matchday squad.

When asked whether Fellaini could return at Leicester at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Mourinho simply said the 29-year-old was “not available”.

Club captain Carrick has been out of contention for longer still, having not played since the EFL Cup victory over Burton Albion in September.

United's longest-serving player underwent a procedure to correct an irregular heart rhythm, after which he said he was “healthy” and preparing to return for United.

Mourinho refused to put a timescale on either Fellaini or Carrick's recovery on Friday, but suggested neither would play in upcoming matches against Burnley, Southampton and Everton.

Valencia, meanwhile, was not expected to feature over the festive period having picked up a hamstring injury in last weekend's Premier League victory over West Bromwich Albion.

Bailly, the Ivorian centre-back, is a long-term absentee and underwent surgery on his ankle injury on Friday.