Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has urged Chris Smalling and Phil Jones to push themselves in order to be fit in time for the Manchester derby.
United square off against Manchester City in a crucial derby encounter at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday night and the Red Devils are facing a bit of an injury crisis in defence ahead of the clash.
Marcos Rojo is currently ruled out while Smalling and Jones have not recovered from their respective injuries as of yet and Mourinho has urged at least one of them to step up and help out Eric Bailly.
Mourinho thinks that Smalling and Jones' absence is down to poor mentality rather than physical problems and the Portuguese boss has urged the duo to be braver by making themselves available for the clash against City.
Mourinho said: "He (Bailly) is incredible.
"If I was Smalling or Jones, I would play Thursday, with anything, I would. I wouldn't accept one guy to play nine matches in a row because I am injured. I would do a last push.
"If they have a crazy mentality like I have, they would (play on Thursday). If they are safe thinking and they are surrounded by people with the same mentality they have, it is more time, more cautious.
"If it was me, nobody would stop me to play."