Jose Mourinho has ruled Marouane Fellaini and Michael Carrick out of Manchester United’s frantic Christmas fixture schedule.

A £2m (€2.26m) legal battle featuring Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini and sportswear giant New Balance is a sign of the sporting times, according to a lawyer who specialises in commercial disputes.

Manchester City 0 Manchester United 0: Marouane Fellaini managed to drag a Manchester derby that had been interesting rather than memorable into pure chaos at the Etihad last night, earning a red card for a headbutt on Sergio Aguero some six seconds after being booked for a foul on the same City forward.

CONFIRMED! Marouane Fellaini is at the hairdresser's…

As far as Manchester United Champions League debuts are concerned, Wayne Rooney set the bar high with a hat-trick on his very first start for the club more than a decade ago but talented Dutchman Memphis Depay produced a performance possibly even more significant to rescue his new club in this qualifying first leg tie.

It was Fellaini and Depay who stepped up to the plate in this 3-1 first-leg win.

"He is probably the best in world football at bringing the ball down and getting us out of that pressure and further up the pitch.”

Wayne Rooney never doubted Marouane Fellaini would become a world-beater at Manchester United. 

Phil Jones and Marouane Fellaini could be set for a recall as Manchester United look to return to winning ways at Crystal Palace on Saturday.