JOSE MOURINHO HAS issued a clean bill of health ahead of the start of Man United’s FA Cup defence with Wayne Rooney and goalkeeper Sergio Romero set to start tomorrow’s clash with Reading.
Rooney hasn’t made an appearance since the 2-0 Premier League win over West Brom on 17 December but has managed to shake off the knock he sustained in training in time for Saturday’s third round tie.
Mourinho, meanwhile, also confirmed Romero will deputise between the posts for David de Gea and Bastian Schweinsteiger will be involved in some capacity against the Championship side.
“He’s selected again, so he can start, he can be on the bench, but he’s an option for us,” the United manager said of Schweinsteiger’s availability.
“I think that’s the best way to describe [him]; for many months he wasn’t an option, we made that decision.
“Since then, he’s been working very well and never an injury – he was ill last week, but never an injury. His body is fine, he’s training very well, he’s ready.”
Eric Bailly is the only absentee for the visit of Jaap Stam’s side to Old Trafford with the defender now on international duty with Ivory Coast ahead of the African Cup of Nations.
United will be hoping to extend their winning streak to eight games but face the prospect of a tricky tie against a Royals side currently riding high in the Championship.
Mourinho is likely to shuffle his pack for the lunchtime kick-off, with the Portuguese boss hinting at squad rotation during this afternoon’s pre-match press conference.
“We have to do that [rotate]. Some players, they need a little rest,” he continued. “Many players, they need to play. Many players deserve to play. I trust them all.
“I know that, if I change three or four players in the team, some people will say there is a risk. Some people will say we do that because it is a Championship team but Reading is better than some Premier League teams.
“The risk is only if we face the game with the wrong attitude, with the wrong frame of mind. If the players go into the game feeling the responsibility and the desire that they are showing match after match, then we have a good chance to win, even if we give some players a rest and some others a chance.
“The week is good if we win, in the FA Cup, I think we don’t need to have a replay, that wouldn’t be good for us.
“The six straight Premier League victories are important because we lost so many points, we got 18 in short period of time and that’s important. It’s a busy time for us but we are in a good situation.”
Mourinho also spoke about the futures of Memphis Depay and Morgan Schneiderlin with both now allowed to leave the club if the right offer is received.
West Brom and Everton have both had bids of under £20 million rejected for France international Schneiderlin as United look to recoup most of the £25 million former manager Louis van Gaal paid Southampton for him 18 months ago.
And Depay remains a target for Everton and European clubs including Roma and Nice, although the only interest in the Dutch winger is for loan deals at present.
The fact that Mourinho will only let the pair leave if United receive acceptable offers leaves the duo in limbo because, while United face a massive fixture list in the short-term that includes interest in four competitions, they will not be considered for selection.
“Their situation is exactly the same, both of them I will allow them to leave the club,” said Mourinho. “I will allow them to leave if the right offer comes. Until this moment, no.
“Is this a good situation? No. Why not? Because I don’t think about them as options in this moment.
“In normal conditions they would probably be selected for the match tomorrow and they aren’t because we are waiting for something that a couple of weeks ago looked like 100% and at the moment looks like 0% because we don’t have any offer that is close to the quality for the players we have.”
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