Pogba has not featured for United since the 2-2 Champions League draw with Atalanta on 2nd November.
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Manchester United received a major boost ahead of their Emirates FA Cup match against Middlesbrough, as the Red Devils welcomed back French midfielder Paul Pogba after a lengthy injury absence. Pogba has not featured for United since the 2-2 Champions League draw with Atalanta on 2nd November. He was suspended for the Premier League defeat to Manchester City, four days later. Pogba then picked up a thigh injury while training with the France national team in the international break. However, the long wait might come to an end on Friday night, with the French World Cup winner all set to feature for the first time under Ralf Rangnick.
Ahead of the Middlesbrough clash, the interim United manager spoke with MUTV and discussed about Pogba’s best position on the pitch among other things. Asked if Paul Pogba is ready for action, he said, “I think he’s definitely ready for tomorrow and, since Fred only came back yesterday with jet-lag, as he played for Brazil, for me, it is quite logical to let Paul play. To see how he is doing and what kind of level he can play. What I’ve seen in training is promising and now it’s up to him to show up on the big pitch, in the big competitions we’re still in. Like everybody, I’m very excited by what he can give to the team and which kind of level he can play.”
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Discussing about his best possible position, Rangnick said, “What I’ve seen so far, with regard to his physique, his physical presence, his technical assets he has. I think his best position is a central midfield position. I don’t see him that much as a winger. By saying that, I wouldn’t say he cannot, at all, play that position. But we have quite a few players for the winger position right now. I see his best possible position as central midfield, if it’s a 6 or an 8, I have to see. I haven’t seen him play so far. If you ask me right now, probably the no.8 position.
Rangnick then gave an update on the team news, starting with the injury list. “We have Eric Bailly, who only came back last night with some ankle problems, a swollen ankle. He cannot be part of the squad. He didn’t train with the team today. We have Victor Lindelof ill and being out of training for the whole week. He trained on Sunday but, since Monday, he’s been ill. Edi will only come back on the weekend. He asked me for one or two days off after the international break and the two games that he played for Uruguay. Jesse will be rejoining the group on either Sunday or Monday. He just asked me and the board for a couple of days off to get fresh in his mind again.”
When specifically asked whether Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Jadon Sancho are all available again, Rangnick replied, “Yes, everybody else is back and available. We have Hannibal included in the squad. He will, from now on, regularly train with us and be a regular member of the squad. He will also be part of the squad for tomorrow’s cup game.”
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