RUBEN AMORIM gave an injury update on Mason Mount.
The Manchester United star, 26, was subbed off at half-time in Boxing Day’s 1-0 win over Newcastle.
He was replaced by Darren Fletcher’s son Jack for the second half.
And Amorim provided good news for United fans by ensuring the Mount substitution was mainly precautionary.
The Red Devils boss said: “He felt something at half-time.
“He wanted to go, and that is also a good thing.
“He wanted to go in the second half, but cannot lose more players, and if you are not 100 per cent, Jack did a very good job.
“We need to suffer all together in the stadium. We did a good first half, and then the second half, we just defended.
“We had the opportunities in the second half with transitions, but it was a good win.
“But I had so many games here saying we played very well and didn’t get the three points, today was the opposite.
BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS
“I think we suffered together and we managed to win the game. Sometimes you just need a little bit of luck.”
Patrick Dorgu, 21, sealed all three points with a sweetly-struck volley after 24 minutes to prove the unlikely match-winner with his first United goal.
Dorgu – who played on the right wing – said: “It was a good hit — I didn’t know I could do that! My first goal at this stadium was amazing.”
The hosts moved into fifth despite having seven first-teamers unavailable due to injuries and Africa Cup of Nations commitments.
Amorim’s United survived a late Newcastle onslaught to keep only a second Prem clean sheet this season.
Portuguese boss Amorim had previously said not even the Pope could get him to change his usual formation but the Old Trafford side started with a back four in defence.
Amorim said: “In the first half I felt that was the only way to create more danger, to have more opportunities was with the back four with a lot of guys inside.
“We just tried to imagine the game and to help the players to feel comfortable.”
Amorim’s Red Devils, who jumped above arch rivals Liverpool and are level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea, were left clinging on at the end after a raft of head-scratching changes.
Asked if it was one of his most satisfying wins of his 13 months in charge, he added: “Yes, if we always have this spirit we are going to win games – with this togetherness in the team.
“The feeling is good but if you compare to other games we suffer so much more today but in certain moments we put everything on the line.
“We are defending every cross. That is a good feeling to have a clean sheet. But we have so many games when we control the opponent so much better.”
United host Wolves in their next game on Tuesday.
