Manchester United have confirmed that the injury that has already ruled Eric Bailly out of their last eight games may require surgery, with Jose Mourinho calling the Ivory Coast international’s setback “serious” after a 1-0 win against Bournemouth.
Bailly, 23, has not played since the 1-0 defeat at Chelsea on Nov. 5 after returning from the October international break with a groin injury.
Mourinho said the club’s medical staff are considering surgery to correct the problem but will wait to see how the centre-back responds to “conservative treatment.”
Mourinho said: “I think it’s serious. It’s an injury that comes from the last time he went with the national team.
“We are trying a conservative treatment but if the conservative treatment is not working, probably he will have a surgery procedure but let’s wait.
He added: “I want to leave it with the doctor. But today, we play with Smalling and Jones, Lindelof on the bench, Marcos Rojo is injured but nothing really big so during all season we have problems with central defenders. Chris Smalling is playing amazingly well, so we are fine.”
He also said: “I can only have six [outfield] players on the bench and I try to have some balance on the bench.
“I had two defenders that can play in different areas, I have Ashley Young to cover the wing and wing-back positions, Herrera is a midfield player, Zlatan is a striker, Rashford is a second striker and a winger.
“To have Mkhi means I don’t have one of them and I believe the others deserve.”
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