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Mou left red-faced as Smalling ruled out with broken toe

Manchester - A broken toe could keep Manchester United's Chris Smalling out for a month, according to a report. 

The Daily Mail said that after Sunday's 3-1 win against Swansea City, Smalling underwent tests, which revealed a double fracture in the digit.

The news came after United manager Jose Mourinho challenged players who refused to take the field with "a little pain."

Smalling's last appearance was on October 23 and the defender had two injections for pain at that outing, the report said.

He and United team-mate Luke Shaw were not named in the England squad to play Scotland, with interim England manager Gareth Southgate saying the pair were injured.

United have games coming up against Arsenal, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United in the Premier League, while they will also play Feyenoord in the Europa League and face the Hammers in an EFL Cup quarter-final on December 1. Smalling is likely to miss all those encounters.

England's next date after their World Cup qualifier tomorrow is a friendly against Spain next week.

Their return-leg group match against Scotland is on January 11.

Mourinho had previously been urged by the Professional Footballer's Association to show more empathy towards players with personal problems after it was revealed that both were injured.

The Portuguese criticised the pair in a post-match interview, saying that they could not play as they had problems, while highlighting that other players who took to the pitch were playing through pain.

The former Chelsea coach went on to insinuate that he needed players who would put their bodies on the line for the team.

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