Juan Mata impresses Manchester United fans with rapid return from injury but Phil Jones and Chris Smalling suffer more insults
The Spanish midfielder has battled back ahead of schedule but that has reminded some angry United fans about their missing defenders
JUAN MATA has stunned Manchester United fans by returning to the squad just weeks after groin surgery – but it’s done sicknotes Chris Smalling and Phil Jones no favours.
The Spanish star had the op at the end of March and was expected to miss at least several weeks of action and possibly the rest of the season.
But – in the same week Jose Mourinho has hinted that injured Smalling and Jones should make more effort to play through the pain barrier – Mata has bravely returned to the bench for the Swansea game.
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Most United fans are just happy to have the former Chelsea man back in the action, as they fight for the Europa League crown and a top-four Premier League finish.
But others have used Mata’s miraculous return as a stick to beat the two England centre-backs.
Smalling has a knee injury and Jones has a foot problem and Mourinho has called them over-cautious.
The Man United boss said: “It's about the philosophy and mentality around them. Cautious. Cautious. Cautious. Just a cautious approach.
"It's a profile, it's the philosophy of work. Just that."
When asked if players should play through the pain barrier, he added: "Professional football at a high level? Yeah.
“I think the fact that we are fighting for important things still is a good motivation to keep people together, to make people make an extra effort.”