Manchester United make the short trip across the Pennines on Saturday, when they take on Premier League new boys Huddersfield Town.
The Red Devils will be looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the Premier League season and follow up their midweek win away at Benfica in the Champions League.
Following this strong start to the season, United currently sit two points behind their cross-town neighbours City and know three points at the John Smith's Stadium are a must.
Jose Mourinho is due up in front of the media at lunchtime to run the rule over injuries, teams news and whatever else is thrown his way, so stay tuned to see exactly what he say here.
More on Zlatan's return date
Jose Mourinho expects Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be back playing for Manchester United before the end of the year.
Ibrahimovic has not played since suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury back in April and was released by United before rejoining in a season-long deal.
The Swedish striker, who scored 28 goals last season before injury cut short his campaign, is continuing his recovery at United’s AON Training Complex , with Mourinho confident he will be back by the end of 2017.
“Zlatan is here, under our control, working as I would expect, so, so hard, but he’s not back in a week or a couple of weeks,” said Mourinho.
“Let’s let him take his time and be back in the right moment. Do I think he will be back in 2017? Yes I do, but it’s just a feeling.
“Paul Pogba is not here, I don’t know when he comes back, when he is available, I don’t know about it.”
Mourinho also confirmed Marcus Rashdord, who came off with an injury after scoring United’s winner in their 1-0 win at Benfica in midweek, is fit to face Huddersfield tomorrow.
Read more from David McDonnell at Carrington here.
The main points
And so Mourinho disappears from whence he came.
We’ll have a full debrief for you shortly, but here are the main points from this afternoon’s press conference...
- Mourinho expects Ibrahimovic to return by the end of the year
- He does not know when Pogba will be back
- Rashford is fit to face Huddersfield
- Mourinho kept his cards close to his chest concerning any January transfer
More coming up shortly...
On Saturday's game
Attention now moves onto tomorrow’s game at Huddersfield.
“We are silly if we don’t know what is expecting for us, unless it’s a new player in the Premier League which we have only Victor, apart from that everybody knows the Premier League and knows what it means to play against newly promoted teams, is nothing new.
“Every team in the Premier League is good and thinks well, that they can win every match against every opponent. The players will be buzzing and the supporters will be happy to have a big club playing in their stadium.”
What about Luke Shaw?
“Luke is working”.
Next.
Mourinho on January signings
Mourinho now asked if he will make any signings in January.
“I don’t know what to say. Yes is true I wanted four players and I think clearly everybody knows the position, maybe you know the player, didn’t happen but we adapt to it and try the best we can.
“The injury process normally is some guys get injured, some guys recover from injury unless we lose completely the balance this happens to almost every team unless some team has a phenomenal season and not even a broken nail happens to a player.
“But what I expect from a normal season is Zlatan will be back and Marcos will be back, and Pogba and Fellaini will be back and someone will get injured.
“I don’t want to speak about signings yet, or market or January, we are in October, we have November, December and half of October to play, so why should I speak about the market.”
Mourinho unsure when Pogba will return
Nothing concrete on Paul Pogba’s return to action:
“Paul Pogba is not here, I don’t know when he comes back, when he is available, I don’t know about it.”
Zlatan expected back before end of year
Next up is the fitness of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
“Zlatan is here, under our control, working as I would expect, so, so hard, but he’s not back in a week or a couple of weeks,” said Mourinho.
“Let’s let him take his time and be back in the right moment. Do I think he will be back in 2017? Yes I do, but it’s just a feeling.”
Rashford fit for Saturday
Mourinho kicks off by confirming that Marcus Rashford is fine for tomorrow’s game.
“Nobody else. Same players. We have the same players as we had for the Benfica match.
“Everybody knows every manager wants to have all the players available it’s just then a question of the way you position yourself in relation to that, the best way you think is to do it.
“For some is better to remember the team is not in its full strength, is better to remember play A or b and C or D is still important for the team. The way we try to do it is always to speak about opportunities for others.
“Doesn’t mean I don’t miss the players, I would like them to be here for us. And yes in answer to your question, nobody is back from injury but what we have is good.”
Mourinho is in the house
Right, off we go.
It looks like we’ll start with injuries...
Mourinho on McTominay
Here’s what Mpurinho has had to say about that new deal for McTominay.
“I am delighted Scott has signed a new contract, he is one of our young players that has gone from strength to strength. He made his Premier League debut at the end of last season and made his Champions League debut this season. I had no hesitation in promoting Scott to the first-team squad last month as we have total belief in him.”
Meanwhile, it would appear that the main man is running late, which means your humble live blogger made the wrong decision in choosing to go for lunch after this press conference.
Stay tuned though folks, I’m sure he won’t be long...
New deal for Scott McTominay
While we wait to see what Mourinho has to say, here’s some news of new contract at Manchester United.
The club have just confirmed that 20-year-old midfielder Scott McTominay has put pen to paper on a deal which will keep him at the club until 2021, with an option to extend a further year.
I have grown up at this great club and it has always been a big part of my life,” he has told the club’s website. “I attended the club’s development centre in Preston from the age of five and have gone on to progress from there.
“To make my debut at the end of last season was a dream come true, and I would like to thank the manager for the faith that he has shown in me. I was absolutely delighted when the manager promoted me to the first-team squad and I am looking forward to continuing my journey with this fantastic team.”
McTominay made his Champions League debut for the club against Benfica this week.
Fergie on the Class of '92's Salford City shenanigans
Sir Alex Ferguson thought the Class of ‘92 were ‘off their heads’ when he found out about the Salford City project.
The Manchester United legends are making big strides towards the Football League with Salford after two promotions in the last three seasons.
Their 5,000 capacity Moor Lane home has been completely renovated ready for professional football and was officially opened by Ferguson on Thursday.
Former United boss Ferguson pulled down the red curtain on a commemorative plaque at the main entrance.
Injury updates on the way
The treatment room at Carrington is getting rather busy, with a few key injuries to Jose Mourinho’s squad.
We know the likes of Marouane Fellaini, Paul Pogba, Marcos Rojo and Zlatan Ibrahmiovic will not be ready for this game, but Eric Bailly, Phil Jones and Michael Carrick are not carrying as serious injuries.
We’re also expecting an update on Marcus Rashford, who limped off against Benfica on Wednesday evening. But he also got a lot of love from the crowd, as you can see blow.
Not long to wait now...
Neville on the title race
Gary Neville reckons the Premier League title will be heading back to Manchester this season.
Former United defender Neville is convinced the title race will be a straight shoot-out between his old club and current league leaders City.
Pep Guardiola’s rampant City lead Jose Mourinho’s United by two points, with third-placed Tottenham within touching distance a further three points adrift of the Reds.
But Neville believes the two Manchester clubs will ultimately pull away to make it a two-horse race, just like it was in 2012, when City won from United on goal difference on a dramatic final day with a last-gasp winer from Sergio Aguero.
“It’s looking that way,” said Neville. “They look like the two clubs. I love watching Tottenham, but have the got the depth to challenge United and City this season? I’m not sure.”
Read more from the Old Trafford old boy right here.
Matic on Mourinho
Jose Mourinho is a “brand” who “possesses all human virtues” and nothing like the cold character he’s portrayed as in the media, Nemanja Matic has explained.
Matic worked with the divisive Portuguese boss at Chelsea and jumped at the chance to join his at Manchester United.
The midfielder described Mourinho as the best coach he has ever worked with in a glowing appraisal of his boss, as reported in the Manchester Evening News.
Mourinho brought Matic back to Chelsea for £21million in January 2014 amid interest from David Moyes’ United.
The Serbia international rewarded his faith by helping the Stamford Bridge club to two Premier League titles in three years.
Ozil set for Old Trafford?
Mesut Ozil has told his Arsenal team-mates he’ll sign for Manchester United.
Ozil, 29, is ready to make the bombshell switch, and is confident that he will move to Old Trafford.
The Germany midfielder is out of contract at the end of the season and can leave for nothing then, but Gunners boss Arsene Wenger admitted publicly last week that they could end up selling him in January.
That has now opened the door to the possibility of Ozil defecting to one of their biggest rivals.
Welcome
Greetings folks, how are we all doing?
If you’re in the mood for a Jose Mourinho press conference then today is your lucky day, as that’s exactly what you’ve just stumbled across.
The Manchester United boss is due up in front of the assembled media hoards shortly when he will be discussing his side’s journey down the M62 to face Huddersfield tomorrow afternoon.
The Red Devils remain undefeated in the Premier League this season following last weekend’s goalless draw at Liverpool and currently sit two points behind their local rivals City in the Premier League table, so know that a win agains the Premier League new boys is a must.
Expect Mourinho to give an update on the injured players in his squad, as Paul Pogba steps up his comeback attempt.
The Terriers meanwhile have made a steady start to their first season in the Premier League and currently sit in 12th place, three points clear of the drop zone.
Stay tuned as we’ll bring you all the latest from Mourinho’s session running the media gauntlet at Carrington right here...