Saturday 16 September 2017 00:00, UK
Jose Mourinho is uncertain about the severity of Paul Pogba's hamstring injury but has no doubt that Manchester United have the midfield strength to cope without him.
Tuesday's long-awaited Champions League return came at a cost, with the 24-year-old only lasting 19 minutes of the 3-0 victory against Basel.
Pogba had been captaining United for the first time when he pulled up as he challenged for the ball.
The France international left Old Trafford on crutches and Mourinho is unsure about his absence beyond Sunday's Premier League clash with Everton.
"I don't know, I just know that it's a muscular injury," the United boss said.
"He's obviously out for the weekend match. The weekend match is the only match that I'm thinking about. I don't think further than that.
"So, for me, it's just simple and objective: he's not playing this weekend."
Herrera, Fellaini, Carrick - they are waiting for a real chance to start matches and to play matches from the beginning, and they are ready.
Immediately after the Basel match, Mourinho spoke of his expectation that Pogba - one of the stars of the first few weeks of the season - faces a "few weeks" out.
However long it ultimately is, the United boss has no doubt his players will step up to the plate.
Michael Carrick, appointed captain in the summer, has yet to play a competitive minute this term, while Ander Herrera - left out of the squad on Tuesday - and Marouane Fellaini offer alternatives.
"We have players and we have players waiting for an opportunity," Mourinho said.
"Because we have started the season really well and with one match per week, [with] no need of resting, [to make] changes, we were basically going with the same players.
"But there are good players more than ready to play, so, honestly, we miss Pogba, we need Pogba, but we have good players.
"Herrera, Fellaini, Carrick - they are waiting for a real chance to start matches and to play matches from the beginning, and they are ready.
"So this is also our way of thinking. We lost important players last season during the season and during crucial moments of the season and we were not crying or making excuses about that. That's just football.
"Squads are there to try to cope with these kind of situations and we know that for a few matches - I don't know how many, I really cannot tell you how many I expect - but we are going to play without Pogba a few matches."
Mourinho confirmed Luke Shaw has recovered from the foot injury he suffered at the end of last season but questioned his form, while Marcus Rojo is expected to be sidelined for another two months with knee ligament damage.
"Luke Shaw is not injured anymore," said Mourinho. "So it is a question of form. It is a question of options. But he is not injured. He recovered from his injury.
"Marcos Rojo is still recovering after such an important injury. Everything went really well but he is not even training with the group in a normal session. He is just doing parts of it.
"So I still think that Marcos has in front of him probably a couple of months."
