Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed that Paul Pogba has joined a growing injury list at the club.
The midfielder withdrew from the France squad for the recent international break with an ankle problem and Solskjaer has now confirmed that the 26-year-old is likely to miss this weekend’s clash with Leicester at Old Trafford.
Pogba is the latest absentee for an injury-hit United squad, who will also be missing Anthony Martial, Luke Shaw, Eric Bailly and Diogo Dalot for the visit of Brendan Rodgers’ in-form Foxes.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Jesse Lingard are also doubts for the clash after withdrawing from Gareth Southgate’s England squad, with a back injury and illness respectively.
Solskjaer admits the club’s treatment room has been ‘busy’, and the Manchester United boss is anticipating a tough game against a Leicester side, who currently sit in third in the Premier League.
“Well, the treatment room’s been busy and still is,” Solskjaer told the media at his pre-match press conference. “So we don’t really know who’s gonna be available.
“There’s maybe Aaron [Wan-Bissaka], maybe Jesse [Lingard] and I think maybe that’s it from the ones that pulled out but I can’t promise those two will be available either.
“Leicester is always a tough game, as a team, a club wanting to push into the top four, they’ve got good players, a good manager, a proven top manager, Brendan’s teams always play with football and we’ve got to play well to get the three points.”
After missing France’s wins over Albania and Andorra this month, Solskjaer had hoped Pogba would be fit enough to return this weekend, though admits it will take a ‘miraculous recovery overnight’ for the midfielder to feature on Saturday.
Pogba’s absence leaves United short of midfield talent, and could see recalls for the likes of out-of-favour duo Nemanja Matic and Fred.
“Pogba won’t be fit, no, unless he’s had a miraculous recovery overnight from yesterday to today or tonight to tomorrow, he’s not been ready to do 100% training, no.”
Solskjaer added that he expected the Frenchman to return for next weekend’s trip to West Ham, with forward Anthony Martial also in contention to return at the London Stadium.
“Well we hope more can be ready for West Ham next week and Paul and Anthony are in that category, I think they’ll be ready for then and can’t say more than that really,” the Norwegian added.
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