Pogba hands boost to Mourinho
PAUL Pogba has given United fans a positive fitness update as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury.
The 24-year-old has not played since he was forced off just 19 minutes into the Reds’ Champions League win over Basel on September 12.
Pogba left Old Trafford on crutches and his injury was deemed ‘long-term’ by manager Jose Mourinho last month.
The Reds boss had previously dismissed reports that Pogba could be sidelined for 12 weeks as ‘complete nonsense’, and just over four weeks on from suffering his injury, the France international has given United supporters an insight into his recovery.
Pogba has posted a flurry of videos on his Instagram account of him on a treadmill, working on his upper body strength, testing his hamstrings and cooling off in an ice bath.
Three United players succumbed to injury during the international break, but Pogba has given Mourinho hope of a return later this month.
United are without Marouane Fellaini after he suffered a knee ligament injury in Belgium’s win over Bosnia and Herzegovina last week, while Romelu Lukaku and Phil Jones also nursed injuries on international duty.
Lukaku recovered to make a goalscoring cameo in Belgium’s victory against Cyprus on Tuesday evening and Jones could recover in time for United’s Premier League trip to Liverpool on Saturday.
Pogba began the campaign superbly but Mourinho stressed United were not missing him after they beat Crystal Palace 4-0 two weeks ago.
“We never miss the players that are injured,” Mourinho said.
“That’s our way of seeing [it]. They are injured, we don’t think about them.
“It’s an opportunity for others, is a moment for others to step up and to get the chance, so I think that’s good.
“When we moan all the time about injuries it looks like we don’t trust the other people and we have to.”