Manchester United had just put on their most convincing display of the season when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer revealed Paul Pogba was set to miss another month of action with an ankle injury.
“I don’t think we’ll see him maybe before December. He’ll be out for a while,” Solskjaertold reporters at Carrow Road after United’s 3-1 win on Sunday. “He needs time to fully, fully recover, so don’t think he’ll be back… maybe Sheffield United after the international break but probably December before you can see him.
“I’m not the doctor but there is an injury there that needs healing, yeah. Ankle rather than foot.”
It was a surprising update from the United manager after Pogba had dropped a hint about his potential return just eight days earlier with an Instagram post in the gym along with the caption: “Almost there.”
Pogba’s made two appearances for United in their last 10 games and they came in the League Cup penalty shoot out win against Rochdale and the draw vs Arsenal. And as they struggled to pick up points in the league it begged the question how much he was missing in a team that was lacking creativity and drive.
However, recent displays have shown that while Pobga, in top form, would be a boost to Solskjaer’s side he’s not imperative to them going on a good run of results in the coming weeks.
McTominay and Fred were the heroes in midfield back in that win in Paris but chances for them to impose in midfield have been few and far between with the Brazilian struggling for game time.
However, with Solskjaer giving the 26-year-old a chance he is starting to establish a partnership with McTominay that is working well.
“Fred was brilliant today, we are working as a pair and getting more and more understanding as a midfield two,” McTominay said after the win on Sunday. “So I thought he was great and he should get credit for his performance