The furore over Jose Mourinho’s public criticism of Luke Shaw and Chris Smalling has not abated since the Manchester United manager first singled out his defenders in Turkey last week.
The lack of Premier League action during the international break has ensured that attention still remains firmly fixed on the Portuguese and his harsh verdict of his players’ character, with most observers still puzzling over why he went so far.
Mourinho has now been left red-faced by the news that Smalling has broken a toe so severely that he is out of action for a month.