‘Their squad is amazing’ – Jose Mourinho expects tough test for Chelsea against injury-hit Manchester United

Jose Mourinho says Manchester United will still pose a major threat to Chelsea on Saturday despite their injury troubles.

United are missing four key men for the clash with the Premier League leaders at Stamford Bridge, with Michael Carrick, Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind and Phil Jones all ruled out.

But Mourinho insists Louis van Gaal’s side, who have won their last six Premier League games, have more than enough depth in their squad to cover the absences and is steeling himself for a stern test.

“Their squad is amazing," said the Blues boss, whose team head into the game eight points ahead of third-placed United.

"Every week I have on the big screen in my office not the team I'm going to play against, but the squad and all the options. This week, when I arrived in the room, for the first time in the week, I realised what they have. It's amazing.

“You want me to name their players? Mata, Di Maria, Januzaj, Rooney, Van Persie, Herrera, Carrick, Blind, Fellaini...

“Defenders? Rafael and Valencia, Luke Shaw left-back, centre-backs Smalling... of course they don't have Evans and Jones, but Blackett, McNair. They have played. Van Gaal is a fantastic coach to develop players.

“These kids have played a lot of matches and are more than ready. I went to QPR with Drogba and no strikers on the bench and, for a long time, because of suspensions or injuries, we were in trouble.

“You have to cope with it. I know Mr Van Gaal very well, and he's the kind of person to think at this moment that we have a fantastic squad and will go with what we have. Injuries are part of the game.”

Mourinho will himself be without a key man for the game, with top goalscorer Diego Costa sidelined due to a hamstring injury.

But the Spanish hitman could be back in time for next weekend's clash with Arsenal.

"He is progressing very well, I think he has a chance for next weekend," said Mourinho.

"Our target for him was to play the last four matches. Arsenal is the sixth from the end, so if he doesn't play against Arsenal or Leicester, it is not a problem because we were always focusing on the last four.

"But things are going so well he has a chance. He's training, he starts training with the rest of the squad next week."

Tune into talkSPORT for live and exclusive national radio coverage of Chelsea v Manchester United on Saturday, kick-off 17:30