Jose Mourinho confirms early return of Lukaku, Rashford and Jones

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has been handed a boost ahead of the upcoming Premier League season thanks to the early return of three World Cup stars.

So far in pre-season, the Portuguese has vented his frustrations over his lack of first-team players due to their commitments at the World Cup in Russia.

United had 11 players included at the World Cup, with seven of those – Marcus Rashford, Romelu Lukaku, Jesse Lingard, Marouane Fellaini, Phil Jones, Ashley Young and Paul Pogba- all making it to the final weekend of the tournament and had been expected to miss the start of the Premier League.

But now, Mourinho has confirmed Lukaku, Rashford and Jones have all returned early from their holidays to try and get fit ahead of the new season which United kick off against Leicester City on August 10.

“We start the Premier League in nine days, and these are the players that we have plus (Victor) Lindelof, who started training two days ago, Marcus Rashford, Phil Jones and Lukaku because they gave to the group and to the team three days of their holidays,” he told reporters after United’s 2-1 pre-season win over Real Madrid (via the Daily Mail).

“They are coming back three days early to try and be available for the team (to face Leicester City). And with the fantastic spirit, we have in the majority of the players – I repeat, in the majority of the players – we have a fantastic spirit, we go with everything we have to the Premier League.

“My players will be in amazing condition. Alexis Sanchez is fresh, the way the man is running, I think he is in a fantastic condition.

“So let’s look at it from a positive side and wait for Lindelof, Rashford, Lukaku and Jones.

“Not prepared but they will be back and that’s the spirit we need because our first two or three weeks in the Premier League are going to be really hard for us because we didn’t prepare for that.”

United have one final game before the Premier League season starts, facing Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich on August 5 in Germany.

Mourinho still unsure on Martial’s return

Despite the good news surrounding the early returns of Lukaku, Rashford and Jones, Mourinho has admitted he is still unsure when Anthony Martial will rejoin the United squad.

Martial left the club’s training camp in the United States last week to fly to Paris for the birth of his second child but is yet to return.

Mourinho had previously commented on Martial’s absence and when pressed again by reporters after United’s game against Real Madrid, the Portuguese said (via Sky Sports):”Anthony Martial? Is better for [press officer] Karen [Shotbolt] to answer if she wants to answer.”

Before adding: “I don’t know.”

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