Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho: 'Eric Bailly's return is much needed'

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has welcomed the return of defender Eric Bailly to fitness.

The Ivory Coast international has missed the last eight games after suffering a knee injury during United's 4-0 defeat to Chelsea in October.

The 22-year-old has since returned to fitness and was named among the substitutes for Sunday's 1-1 draw with Everton at Goodison Park, but he will leave the squad in January for the Africa Cup of Nations.

"We need that," Mourinho told MUTV. "It's impossible for the same players to play every match and in this moment we are having that because of a lack of available options.

"So to have Eric back is good news, even though it is only for a few weeks because we know he goes to the Africa Cup of Nations very soon, but at least in this busy period of Christmas we have one more option. That's important."

Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo have been the centre-back pairing for the past five games.