POGBA SET FOR MORE TIME OUT
■ DOES GOMES GET A LOOK-IN?
If Angel Gomes’s month-long squad absence was curious, his omission against AZ Alkmaar drew attention. Gomes was present for the open training session last Wednesday before he was cut from the matchday 18 and his apparent passive aggressive Instagram activity – deleting posts and removing United from his bio – has come two weeks before the winter window opens.
The 19-year-old is out of contract in June and free to negotiate a pre-contract with overseas clubs next month. Sources close to Gomes said in September they were ‘not optimistic’ of a new deal and his prospects at United have not improved.
■ GREENWOOD TO FORCE SOLSKJAER TO MAKE A CHANGE?
Mason Greenwood has more goals than Anthony Martial this season and his finishing has drawn comparisons with his manager and Robin van Persie. He has five in six cup starts this season.
“He’s making it hard for me to leave him out,” Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said on Sunday.
With Martial still fitful, another convincing cup performance from Greenwood could ensure he starts at Watford.
■ DALOT TO RETURN?
It was only 15 months ago the United manager opined the club had their rightback for the next 10 years. That theory looks more concrete now, only the right back is Aaron Wan-Bissaka and not Diogo Dalot. Save two cup games, Dalot missed the first three months of last season and has sat out three months of the current campaign. He has not appeared since he came off in the secondhalf at Newcastle on October 6.
Solskjaer has suggested the 20-year-old could return against Colchester but he might have to wait, with Brandon Williams and Ashley Young both likely to feature.
■ LOOKING TOWARDS WATFORD?
Against Alkmaar, Solskjaer rested David de Gea, Aaron WanBissaka, Victor Lindelof and Daniel James, Fred, Scott McTominay and Marcus Rashford were unused substitutes and Anthony Martial and Harry Maguire were withdrawn either side of the hour mark. Solskjaer all but confirmed his XI for Everton’s visit with his Europa League selection and there will be more confirmations against Colchester, although not as many.
■ ANOTHER CHANCE FOR GARNER?
Despite his matchday exclusions against Everton and City, James Garner was among the provisional squad and Nemanja Matic wasn’t. Garner, 18, lined up against Alkmaar last week and is due another run-out against League Two Colchester.