Jose Mourinho gets big boost ahead of Liverpool clash

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has been handed a boost by Phil Jones ahead of Saturday's showdown with Liverpool.

The Reds meet their old enemy at Anfield in the day's early kick-off - and the England defender is set to be available.

Jones was released from the England squad with a minor knee problem as a precautionary measure last week and missed the World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia and Lithuania.

MEN Sport understands the centre-back - who also sat out United's trip to face CSKA Moscow last month - should be fit to face Liverpool.

That would be a big lift for Mourinho who has partnered the former Blackburn man with Eric Bailly to impressive effect so far this season, with the Reds conceding just two Premier League goals so far

With Paul Pogba already a long-term absentee with his hamstring injury and Marouane Fellaini joining him on the sidelines after suffering a knee ligament strain playing for Belgium against Bosnia at the weekend, Jones' presence would be a positive.

Mourinho was full of praise for the 25-year-old early in the season.

"He's potentially a very good player," Mourinho said. "He's still young. He's still in a learning age but for years and years and years he was injury-prone.

"If we manage to have him safe and protected from injuries, I think potentially he's everything I like in a central defender."

FROM Manchester evening news