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Jose Mourinho: I hope this star can replace Eric Bailly in January
MANCHESTER UNITED boss Jose Mourinho is hopeful Chris Smalling can replace Eric Bailly in his starting line-up in January.
Eric Bailly - 5 things you need to know
Bailly made his first appearance since October in the 2-0 Europa League win over Zorya Luhansk last night.
However, Manchester United will lose the Ivory Coast international for a month in January.
The defender will head off to the African Cup of Nations meaning Jose Mourinho will be short of options at the back.
And the United boss has admitted he is hoping Smalling recovers from injury in time for the New Year.
Manchester United ace Eric Bailly is off to the African Cup of Nations next month
Eric Bailly starred in Manchester United's 2-0 win over Zorya Luhansk last night
“Let’s hope Smalling can recover in time to replace him in the squad because, with so many matches, we need players," Mourinho told the club's official website.
“At the moment, we have Phil Jones, Bailly and Marcos Rojo.
"We play Tottenham, West Brom and Reading, West Ham away in that period we have a lot of matches and it is important to have players.”
Chris Smalling has not featured since Manchester United's 4-0 defeat to Chelsea
Smalling has not featured since the 4-0 defeat to Chelsea on October 23.
Since his injury Mourinho has been forced into pairing the unlikely combination of Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo in the heart of his defence.
Bailly, Jones and Rojo are all in contention to start when United face Tottenham on Sunday (2.15).
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