Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney will miss the Reds’ last fixture of 2016, as José Mourinho’s side take on Middlesbrough at Old Trafford on New Year’s Eve.
Rooney missed United’s 3-1 victory over Sunderland on Boxing Day after picking up a thigh injury in training on Christmas Day, and Saturday’s clash against Aitor Karanka’s side comes too soon for the club captain to make his return.
When asked whether there was a definitive timescale for Rooney’s return in the pre-match press conference, Mourinho replied:
No, but he’s not ready [for the Middlesbrough match].
The other absentee for United on Saturday will be Luke Shaw, although Mourinho confirmed in a separate interview with MUTV that the left-back was back in full training with the first-team squad:
Luke is training now with the team without any problem, but I don’t think he is ready to start the game [either].
Otherwise, Mourinho will have a full side to select from as the Reds chase a sixth consecutive win in all competitions against the Boro. Eric Bailly, who missed out on the squad that beat Sunderland on Monday, is fit and available to be selected.
