Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho has confirmed this afternoon that Eric Bailly will not play for Manchester United for a couple of months.

The Ivorian centre back hasn’t played for the club since United’s 1-0 loss away at Chelsea in early November.

Bailly, 23, sustained a serious ankle injury and will now undergo surgery.

Mourinho stated:

He goes to surgery, the decision is made. I don’t say [he’s out] for the rest of the season but it’s for the next two or three months.

Bailly’s injury means that United are likely to start with an all-English centre back partnership for the next couple of months with both Chris Smalling and Phil Jones.

In the six games since Bailly’s injury, United have kept just two clean sheets and conceded six.

United kept six clean sheets in the eight games that Bailly started in the league season, showing just how important he is to the side.