Manchester United and Manchester City will be without star midfielders Paul Pogba and David Silva respectively for the derby on Thursday. Pogba, 24, injured his hamstring during the closing stages of United’s 2-0 win over Burnley on Sunday and was substituted in stoppage time. Silva, 31, had to be taken off just 23 minutes into Manchester City’s FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal on Sunday after a heavy challenge from Gabriel Paulista.
Pogba’s injury will come as a big blow to United, who are currently fighting with City for fourth place, which will all but guarantee Champions League football. The Frenchman joins teammates Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Marcos Rojo, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones on the sidelines for the Red Devils.
In some good news for United, however, manager Jose Mourinho confirmed that winger Antonio Valencia and midfielder Ander Herrera have recovered in time from their knocks and are fit for the match. Both players were crucial in United’s 2-0 win over table toppers Chelsea 10 days ago.
City manager Pep Guardiola said Silva is a “real doubt” for the derby, but added that strikers Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus are fit to play. “David Silva real, real doubt – I don’t know if he will be ready to play after what happened in the first minutes in the semi-final,” Guardiola said. “Gabriel has no pain at all so is ready but [after] three months out his physical condition is not optimal. Sergio is much better. Today he make a part of the training session. Tomorrow he will be ready.”
