Man Utd boss Jose Mourinho was an angry and frustrated man earlier this month as he continuously bemoaned the club’s packed fixture list and the effect it was having on his players.
Paul Pogba was among those to pick up an injury problem with Mourinho insisting that fatigue was playing a role for his side as they battled through a busy run of games to stay on track in the Premier League and in Europe.
However, the Portuguese tactician’s mood isn’t about to improve any time soon, as after both Chris Smalling and Phil Jones withdrew from the England squad last week with injuries, Marouane Fellaini has been ruled out of Belgium’s friendly with Russia this week with a minor toe injury, as confirmed by Kristof Terreur in the tweet below.
While it doesn’t sound as though it’s a serious setback, it’s another headache nonetheless as Mourinho will be at risk of having one less option to deploy in midfield this weekend when his side take on West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.
It remains to be seen how long Smalling and Jones could be ruled out for too, and so as the Red Devils enter a crucial part of the season, this isn’t exactly what Mourinho would have been hoping for on his return to training this week.
United still have plenty of quality and depth to deal with any absences, but it’s not ideal for them to continue to see their international stars pick up fresh injury woes.
Marouane Fellaini will miss Belgium's friendly against Russia with a minor toe injury. #mufc pic.twitter.com/FR35WuZZqR
— Kristof Terreur ? (@HLNinEngeland) March 26, 2017