Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
READY TO RE-TOON
Pogba has Newcastle underlined in red and that’s music to Jose’s ears
PAUL POGBA expects to make his long-awaited return for Manchester United immediately after the international break.
The France star has missed 12 games for the Red Devils because of a hamstring strain.
But he could be in the squad for their next match, the visit of Newcastle to Old Trafford in the Premier League on November 18. Without their record £89million signing, United have slipped eight points adrift of Premier League leaders and local rivals Manchester City.
Pogba is expected to be integrated into full training next week, with a view to him making his return, likely to be from the bench, against Rafa Benitez’s side. Boss Jose Mourinho is desperate to have him match-fit for the Manchester derby at home to high-flying City on December 10 – a game that United simply cannot afford to lose. After taking just one point from their last three top-flight away games, they are playing catch-up on the Blues.
Defeats at Huddersfield and Chelsea have proved costly during Pogba’s twomonth absence.
United know that falling further adrift would virtually signal the end of their title hopes before Christmas.
The 24-year-old midfielder, who underwent a significant chunk of his rehabilitation in the US, is now back working at United’s AON training complex ahead of his imminent return.
Romelu Lukaku has suffered without his close pal, the pair having struck up an impressive understanding on the pitch to complement their friendship off it.
Lukaku, a £75m summer signing from Everton, has seen the goals dry up since Pogba was injured.
The Belgian is now on a run of seven games without finding the back of the net.
Mourinho has tried not to use the loss of Pogba as an excuse for United slipping so far behind City, claiming he will not “cry” about injuries like some other managers. But he admitted after Sunday’s defeat at Chelsea that United miss the influence and dynamism of Pogba, who had made a fine start to the season until it was sabotaged by injury.
Mourinho is hoping United’s flagging domestic campaign will be given a much-needed boost by the triple return of Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimobic and Marcos Rojo.
Ibrahimovic and Rojo both damaged cruciate knee ligaments during United’s 2-1 Europa League quarter-final win over Anderlecht in April.
Ibrahimovic, 36, who had scored 28 goals in his debut season for United until injury brought it to a premature end, has stepped up his recovery and could feature in the final Champions League group game at home to CSKA Moscow on December 5.
Defender Rojo is also close to a return – with Mourinho confident he, Pogba and Ibrahimovic will be back soon enough to play a significant part in the busy Christmas and New Year fixture programme.