‘FREED POG IS MAGIC’

Herrera says team-mates’ graft is helping the Frenchman craft

PAUL POGBA has been set free by Manchester United to conjure “magic” performances, according to team-mate Ander Herrera. The France midfielder has scored four times in four games since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took charge, and orchestrated a hard-fought win over Newcastle on Wednesday. He is driving the Reds ever closer to the top four and Champions League qualification, something that looked impossible after poor results under axed Jose Mourinho.

Herrera says Pogba, linked with a move to Juventus after disagreements with Mourinho, is key to the revival. Team-mates have pledged to graft to ensure Pogba can express himself and open up teams with his skill and running power.

The World Cup winner limped out of St James’ Park with scuff mark high on a thigh from a terrible challenge from Jonjo Shelvey, but was in good spirits posing for photographs. Herrera said: “I think Nemanja Matic and me, and the other players, we have to help him to make him feel free and that’s what we’re doing.

“When he is in the opponent’s half he has that magic to change the game, so we are really happy for him. He’s very important for the club – on the pitch and off the pitch as well.

“He’s playing really, really well. Not only with the ball. I think as soon as we lose the ball he is ready to defend, ready to help the team. He is playing very simple and effective in our half.”

Herrera says United cannot get bogged down fretting about catching the top four, with Chelsea six points clear of them.

He said: “When I saw we were maybe 12 points behind, I decided to not think about it, go game-by-game and that’s what we did.

“That’s what I did at least and things are going well, so I don’t want to change. I’m not going to think about that. If we continue this run, we will be closer to the top four but it’s not something that kills my mind right now.

“I respect a lot what the last manager did for us. The only thing I can say, or the only thing I can talk about, is our form right now.

“It’s very good, we are happy.”