Luke Shaw and Henrikh Mkhitaryan not ready for Manchester United return

Manchester United defender Luke Shaw and midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan were not "100% ready" to face Premier League champion Leicester City but neither player is injured, according to manager Jose Mourinho. The pair were notable absentees as the Foxes were swept aside 4-1 at Old Trafford in the club's most convincing performance since Mourinho's arrival.

Shaw suffered a groin injury in the loss to Watford, while Mkhitaryan hasn't played since being substituted at half time in the derby defeat to Manchester City. Neither player were named in the match day squad, which saw captain Wayne Rooney drop to the bench for the first time since April.

Mourinho singled out Shaw for criticism following the defeat to Watford, blaming the left-back for switching off as Juan Zuniga scored the second in a 3-1 win for the Hornets. Mkhitaryan meanwhile suffered a thigh problem while on international duty with Armenia yet did play 45 minutes against City.

But Mourinho said of the reason for the pair's absence, according to ESPN: "I wouldn't say injured. I would say they are not 100%. When they are not 100%, I always think that in these difficult moments - when you really feel you have to win the match - I prefer always to go with players who are 100% ready, from their physical and mental point of view.

The United boss did confirm however that striker Anthony Martial and defender Phil Jones remain injury concerns. Martial was substituted in the first half against Watford with a delayed concussion, but is now understood to be suffering from a calf strain.

Jones meanwhile has not played this season and is currently nursing a knee problem, which could now see him sidelined until after next month's international break. "Injured were [Anthony] Martial and Phil Jones," the United manager added. "Phil will be still for a few more weeks. All the others are still in that grey zone between being fit or being injured. The decision was to go for people who were ready."