Manchester United centre-back Phil Jones is yet to complete a training session this season, reports The Athletic.
As a result, the 31-year-old is not in contention to feature in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Red Devils are without Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane following their season-ending injuries against Sevilla.
Harry Maguire is suspended for the FA Cup game, with Victor Lindelof the only available primary centre-back.
Man United manager Erik ten Hag will have to look at deploying someone else to play out of position.
Jones spent his holidays doing physical work to get in the best shape possible for pre-season.
However, a relapse of a long-standing knee issue on the first day of training dealt a blow to his fitness.
It caused him serious distress and he has been unable to get fit since.
Jones underwent a procedure in 2020 and has seen several specialists.
However, the problem has persisted and hindered his chances of showing Ten Hag what he is capable of.
The former Blackburn Rovers man was excluded from the Premier League and Europa League squads.
Nevertheless, he would have been able to play in the FA Cup were he fit.
Jones was out of action from January 2020 to September 2021 before returning to play five times last term.
He is out of contract at the end of the season, and while Man United have the option to extend it, he is expected to leave the club at the end of his 12th season with them.
