Phil the role

"What I can say is that I am happy with the squad I have," Mourinho added.

"I would like my squad to be my squad until the end of the season and I am not going to any player to say, 'You are going to leave because I am not happy, because I don't want to have you.'

"I am happy with the players I have, even with players that are not having many opportunities to play."

Mourinho said players outside the first-team frame need only look at defender Phil Jones, who has capitalized on injuries to Eric Bailly and Chris Smalling to re-establish himself at centerback.

"From my point of view, I am happy to keep everyone and everyone will have a chance," said Mourinho, whose team is sixth in the Premier League table.

"Sometimes the chance is there, you get it like Jones. Unexpectedly, you have Bailly out, Smalling out, everybody out and comes the game against Swansea and Jones is in and he is still there."

Mourinho is conscious of the heavy schedule his team faces over the second half of the campaign as it continues its runs in the League Cup and Europa League.

United could play as many as 65 games this season and Mourinho explained that is one of the reasons behind his apparent U-turn over veteran German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger.

The 32-year-old appeared to be on his way out of Old Trafford, but has recently returned to the first team lineup and made a substitute appearance in the recent League Cup triumph over West Ham.

Now, Mourinho expects Schweinsteiger to remain with United in the new year.

"I do," said the Portuguese. "Unless again the player knocks on our door with a future that he wants to grab with both hands.

"Then I never stop players doing what they want if - I repeat, if - the conditions are right for the club."