Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim says Harry Maguire and Leny Yoro will return to the squad ahead of his team’s Premier League clash with high-flying Nottingham Forest tomorrow.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of the game, Amorim was asked about player fitness.
“Luke [Shaw] is not ready yet,” he said. “We are starting to do some drills with the team but we are building Luke.
“Mason Mount is feeling better but he was already on the bench the last game.
“Kobbie [Mainoo] is almost returning but he is not ready for this game. Jonny Evans is recovering, Ayden is recovering. Licha [Martinez] is out, I think that’s it.
“[Harry] Maguire is also ready to go to the game and [Leny] Yoro, yes.”
When pressed on Heaven’s injury, the boss replied:
“It was not so serious. He’s recovering, he’s not ready to play but he’s going to return this season, for sure.”
On the mood inside the dressing room, Amorim said:
“I think I can say that I am really confident and the players are more confident. The energy is different, but I know that could change with results. We know we have to improve and we are ready for these final two months of this season.”
In response to a question about his targets for the rest of the season, the head coach said:
“I don’t know which place we are going to finish in, but we want to win games. We still have matches to finish in a different position. We are more confident, so we are looking up. We want to win games and are looking up at the moment.”
The discussion then went on to the hectic schedule awaiting United in April.
“We had that kind of schedule in the last weeks with less players,” he noted. “It is really important for us to have these players available for us to fight. I think it is a very good moment in our season. I know we will have at least three games in the Premier League that are really tough. The Europa League is also really important.”
Amorim was then asked what he felt about Marcus Rashford’s form at Aston Villa, where he is is on a six-month loan. The boss was somewhat cool in response, saying:
“”We have a lot of games to play and I am focused on my team and my players. Rashford is not my player at the moment, but I am happy when our players are playing well on loan.”
On to tomorrow’s game, and Amorim was asked to comment on countryman Nuno Espirito Santo’s achievements at the City Ground, where he has guided his team to the Champions League places in the league and to an FA Cup semi-final.
“I am not surprised, he is a top manager,” the boss said. “The environment will be really nice, they are doing amazing. But we want to continue to win games.”
Chido Obi’s inclusion in tonight’s FA Youth Cup semi-final squad was also discussed, as it will mean he is unlikely to feature for the first team tomorrow.
“We try to imagine next the game, we have to give minutes to the kid,” Amorim said. “We are trying to win that competition, to build something with the youth. Chido needs to play also, so we are helping team and player.”
Featured image Alex Livesey via Getty Images
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Red Billy
Red Billy is the managing editor of The Peoples Person, author of three books and totally obsessed with football’s transfer market. Billy still insists Matteo Darmian and Alex Telles could have made it at United given half a chance.
