Illness delays Pogba return after injury

Paul Pogba’s recovery from an ankle injury has been compounded by illness, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer suggesting it has set the Manchester United midfielder “back quite a bit”.

Having fuelled speculation about his future during a summer of intense scrutiny, the 26-year-old has not featured since September due to an injury that has restricted him to just six appearances this season.

United manager Solskjaer has spoken confidently about the Real Madrid target returning to action before the end of the year and Pogba had been due to resume first-team training this week.

“Of all things he’s struck down ill now,” Solskjaer said on Sunday, when previewing the Carabao Cup quarter-final against League Two Colchester.

“He’s been off for two or three days – three days probably – so that’s not beneficial. That’s probably set him back quite a bit.”

Solskjaer’s comments came just hours before videos were posted on social media on Sunday, with Pogba dancing and showing few ill effects at his brother’s wedding.

“As I’ve said so many times, Paul’s a top, top player that we want to see playing his best football at Man United,” Solskjaer said.

“We just need to get him fit and match fit. It might be half an hour, 45, 60, 90 – who knows, the first game. We’re working hard to get him back but now he’s ill.”

Diogo Dalot could make his first appearance in 10 weeks but Marcos Rojo, Timothy Fosu-mensah and Eric Bailly remain sidelined.