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Man Utd news: Jose Mourinho reveals early team news for Champions League clash
JOSE MOURINHO has revealed left-back Luke Shaw will start for Manchester United when they face Young Boys in their opening Champions League clash on Wednesday (8pm).
Mourinho says he is 'happy' following Watford victory
The 23-year-old was an absentee from yesterday’s 2-1 win over Watford at Vicarage Road with a head injury suffered on international duty.
Shaw’s return to the England squad was cut short after sustaining concussion following a heavy clash of heads before the hour mark of the Three Lions’ Nations League defeat to Spain.
He was cleared by the club’s medical staff to return to the Red Devils’ squad to face the Hornets but was left out after missing training throughout the week, with converted defender Ashley Young instead taking his place.
Yet Mourinho insists Shaw will come back into his team against Swiss side Young Boys in Bern in mid-week.
The Portuguese manager revealed: “Luke Shaw plays Wednesday. We can't do it with one left-back and Ashley Young is not just a left-back, he's also a right-back.
"They both are doing well, and they both are different players and I think they both understand that one is a young player and the other one is the experienced one.
"It's good for us to have these two options, plus [Matteo] Darmian. Darmian is my emergency man, he is always ready for everything."
Having come on as a substitute in United’s first three matches of the top-flight season, Marouane Fellaini has started both of their last two games - helping Mourinho’s men to secure back-to-back wins.
And the Belgian was one of the visitors’ best performers against Watford with the 30-year-old’s defensive nous and aerial prowess helping to arrest Watford’s attacking danger.
Hailing the performance of the 30-year-old, Mourinho said: “We made defensive mistakes against Brighton and against Tottenham.
“Against Brighton we didn’t deserve to win that match, but against Tottenham I think we did deserve to win it. Six goals and defensive mistakes.
“Then we go to two matches away - difficult matches, difficult stadiums, Burnley and Watford - and I felt that my central defenders need, especially in the moment of a bit of instability, they need somebody to support them, to give them the first wall, physicality.
“But Marouane is giving us more than that. He’s giving us that, but he’s giving also quality and simplicity in his football.
“He’s playing simple and well. So I’m really happy for Marouane.”
Another key performer was David De Gea, who stepped up when called upon to deny Christian Kabasele with a crucial stoppage-time save.
Mourinho continued: “Only one save, but a fantastic save. We know what is a good keeper from a big team.
“In some matches, you don’t touch the ball; in some matches, you are just somebody that is watching the game.
“But in the right moment, you have to be there. And today his moment was that save in the last minute, so good for him and for us.”