Solskjaer explains why Phil Jones has not travelled with United squad to Germany for Europa League

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has explained why Phil Jones is not part of the Manchester United squad that travelled to Germany on Sunday.

Jones has been out with a knee injury since football resumed after the lockdown.

Although he’s in United’s 30-man Europa League squad, the centre-back will miss United’s quarter-final clash against FC Copenhagen on Monday night (not that he’d start the tie).

The manager will hold a press conference at 6pm where he is expected to reveal more team news ahead of the one-legged tie, which must be decided on the night.

“Phil has been following an individualised training programme during the post-lockdown period to optimise recover from a knee problem,” Solskjaer told the official Manchester United website.

“It was a good opportunity as we had sufficient cover in defensive positions for the remaining Premier League games and he will continue to work with a fitness coach at the Aon Training Complex, while the squad are in Germany.”

Victor Lindelof was rested last Wednesday in the 2-1 second-leg win over LASK, with Eric Bailly chosen to partner Harry Maguire at centre-back.

Academy defender Teden Mengi came off the bench to make his senior debut becoming the eight youth player to make his first senior appearance this season.

Luke Shaw and Axel Tuanzebe have been ruled out until the start of the new Premier League campaign.

A win for the Red Devils would book Solskjaer’s side a place in the Europa League semi-finals against either Wolves or Sevilla next weekend.

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