Mourinho gives injury update on De Gea, Rooney

Matt Stead

Jose Mourinho admits that Wayne Rooney could miss the EFL Cup final against Southampton.

United face Saints at Wembley on Sunday, hoping to claim the season’s first piece of silverware.

Mourinho’s side are also in the knockout rounds of the Europa League, face a battle for Champions League qualification in the Premier League, and have reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

They beat Blackburn 2-1 to make the final eight in the premier domestic cup competition on Sunday, with Rooney not even making the matchday squad.

Mourinho opened up on the reasons for the captain’s absence, while he allayed fears that goalkeeper David De Gea had suffered an injury, with Sergio Romero entrusted against Blackburn.

“David De Gea was rested. Rooney is injured. Phil Jones is injured. I don’t think they will recover (to play Saint-Etienne on Wednesday),” said the Portuguese.

“Antonio Valencia was rested but Rooney and Jones haven’t trained with the team yet so I don’t think they will be there for Wendesday.”

When Mourinho was asked whether Rooney will be fit for the EFL Cup final, Mourinho replied: “I don’t know.”