Pogba likely to start after Watford return
OLE Gunnar Solskjaer has all but confirmed Paul Pogba will start for United in today’s encounter with Newcastle.
Pogba returned from a 12-week absence with an ankle injury in the 64th minute of United’s spineless 2-0 defeat at Watford on Sunday and was described as the sole positive by Solskjaer.
The United manager’s decision to name an unchanged league team backfired again at Vicarage Road and changes are inevitable against Newcastle at Old Trafford.”Let’s see how he reacts to this, how he feels,” Solskjaer said of Pogba. “He did really well when he came on. Big, big plus.
“It might be that we do get him in from the start because you just want to get more and more into the team when he plays.”
Pogba was given a free role with United 2-0 down in an effort to salvage something from the game and it remains to be seen whether Solskjaer will accommodate him with midfield mainstays Scott McTominay and Fred.
Jesse Lingard has gone over 25 hours without a Premier League goal or assist and is vulnerable to a demotion and Daniel James was substituted before the hour mark at Watford.
Although Pogba’s position has been problematic at times for United, Solskjaer views his versatility as a positive: “He can play anywhere. He can play the whole midfield. He’s a box-to-box midfielder. He can drop deep, get it, play them long passes. He can get higher up and combine like he did today, one-twos. Him and Anthony and Marcus started created chances down that side.
“So, it depends on the [game].
That’s the beauty of having Paul, because he is the best all-around midfielder in the world. He can do all roles but if I am play him low, he should have played high. And if you play him high, you should have played low.
“There’s always going to be that discussion with him but it’s great to have him back.”
Diogo Dalot could return to the United first-team squad for the first time since the 1-0 reverse at Newcastle on October 6. Dalot played in the Under-19s’ friendly win over AC Milan at Leigh Sports Village on Friday night.
Marcos Rojo resumed full training earlier this month and could come back into the fold in place of the injured Axel Tuanzebe.