Manchester United head coach Jose Mourinho has said that his side were not informed about Phil Jones’ decision to take painkilling injections prior to England’s international friendly against Germany earlier this month. The 25-year-old took six injections of local anesthetic which is a norm for any player sustaining a knock on international duty with the Three Lions.
However, the move has not gone well with Jones aggravating a thigh injury which he is deemed to have sustained in training. Shortly after, Mourinho was critical over the FA’s decision to opt for an injection for a mere friendly, and he has now gone on to suggest that England made no effort to inform of the issue at the initial stage.
He told reporters: “No. I think it’s a conversation between doctors because I’m not a doctor. I just get information from my doctor, and the information from my doctor was that they consult him in relation to Phil Jones with a little problem in the knee when the national team starts working. But then no more contact. The local injections before the match, we were not informed [about]. Apart from that, I don’t have to speak with Southgate. I just wish [him] good and want him to be successful.”
Manchester United convincingly beat Newcastle United without the services of Jones and Eric Bailly, but they are currently short of central defensive options with Marcos Rojo having just returned from a long-term knee injury. The club endured a string of midfield absentees during the month of October which hampered their league form, and Mourinho will hope that the pair return to action quickly ahead of the congested festive schedule in December.
Manchester United are virtually through to the Champions League knockout phase, and the focus will now be on their Premier League hunt, where they are eight points behind league leaders Manchester City. United face both Arsenal and City themselves prior to the turn of the year, and the matches could determine their title prospects.