Jose Mourinho confirms Nemanja Matic will miss start of the season

Manchester United has confirmed that midfielder Nemanja Matic will miss the start of the Premier League after undergoing surgery on an abdominal injury sustained during the World Cup. The Serbia international was one of the standout performers for United during the previous campaign as they finished runners-up to Manchester City.

Speaking to reporters, Mourinho said: “Matic arrived from the World Cup, holiday, direct to surgery because something happened in the World Cup.He has had surgery. He is out for the start of the season. He came from the World Cup with the injury and the time he had to rest on holiday was not enough to resolve the problem.I don’t know how long he will be out for.”

Mourinho had initially expected Matic to feature during the club’ pre-season tour of the United States and his absence is likely to prove a blow for United ahead of the new Premier League season. United are expected to be without both Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini for the season opener amid their World Cup exploits and this may potentially witness Mourinho go with a relatively new combination of Ander Herrera, Andreas Pereira and Fred in the centre of the park.

United have had a rather frustrating transfer window with Fred, Diogo Dalot and Lee Grant being their only signings. Among the trio, only the former may expected to feature extensively during the upcoming campaign and the club could be headed for another season without Premier League success unless there is some activity before the transfer deadline.

Leicester City’s Harry Maguire and Tottenham Hotspur’s Toby Alderweireld have been among the high-profile players tipped to strengthen United’s defence this summer but the transfer saga could go down to the wire, considering Mourinho’s side are yet to make a formal approach for either player with the deadline approaching.