Jose Mourinho: This is why beating West Brom will be hard

JOSE MOURINHO says Saturday's clash with West Brom will be 'hard' because of the number of Manchester United players he had on international duty.

18:44, Wed, Mar 29, 2017 | UPDATED: 18:46, Wed, Mar 29, 2017

Roy Keane launches attack on Jose Mourinho

Manchester United will be without suspended duo Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ander Herrera and injured trio Paul Pogba, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones.

While Antonio Valencia, Marcos Rojo and Sergio Romero are yet to return after games in South America.

West Brom travel to Old Trafford in buoyant mood after a 3-1 win over Arsenal before the break.

And Mourinho thinks his side face a tough task to beat a more rested Baggies team.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic GETTY

Zlatan Ibrahimovic will miss the game through suspension

"I don't know how but both central defenders [Smalling and Jones] got injured in the English camp even before the match," Mourinho said.

"The match was on the Sunday against Lithuania and they were injured in the training session. We lost four, I think [Paul] Pogba is also out, that's five, so we are a bit in trouble.

Jose Mourinho GETTY

Jose Mourinho will be without at least five players against West Brom

"I watched Valencia's match yesterday in Ecuador, Marcos Rojo in Bolivia, but they don't arrive until Thursday afternoon.

"If you compare our situation with our opponents, West Bromwich Albion, only one player on international duty. They had time to work, time to rest and prepare. It's going to be hard."