Pogba to miss his Frenchexam after test

PAUL Pogba will be absent for France’s Nations League matches and the start of Manchester United’s pre-season preparations after testing positive for Covid-19.

The 27-year-old has been enjoying some downtime since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side were beaten in the Europa League semi-finals in Cologne 11 days ago.

Pogba was a key member of the United squad after the coronavirus break gave the midfielder time to make a recovery from an ankle issue that had blighted his season, preventing him from representing France since last June.

The World Cup winner was due to make his long-awaited return to Didier Deschamps’ squad in the upcoming Nations League double-header against Sweden and Croatia, only to be ruled out having tested positive for coronavirus.

France boss Deschamps told a press conference: “I’ve completed at the very last minute a change in the list, because Paul Pogba, who was previously on the list, unfortunately for him he carried out a test yesterday which was returned as positive this morning.

“So at the last moment he had to be replaced by Eduardo Camavinga.”

The 17-year-old Rennes midfielder comes in for Pogba, whose illness is set to rule him out of the start of United’s pre-season preparations given training resumes on September 2.

A United statement said: “Pogba has been replaced in the squad after testing positive for Covid-19.

“The midfielder will be unable to add to his 69 caps and 10 goals for his country in the games next month.

“Everybody at United wishes Paul a speedy recovery ahead of the new season.”

While Pogba has been sidelined, United team-mate Anthony Martial has made it into the France squad for the first time.