Solskjaer expects Pogba to be back by December

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said that midfielder Paul Pogba will return to action in December, in time for him to prove his fitness for the January transfer window.

Pogba has been out of action for most of the season with the mixture of a foot and ankle injury, and claims to want to return to help out the team.

United play Partizan Belgrade on Thursday night, and then have a game against Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday in the Premier League, where they will look to get three points following another pitiful display in the 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth last Sunday.

An international break follows for us to all be bored out of our skulls before an away game against Sheffield United, and a game against Astana precedes United’s first match in December, at home to Aston Villa.

Solskjaer said: “He (Pogba) said it himself. It won’t be too long until he’s out of his cast. He’ll work hard during the international break and hopefully, he’ll be back.”

That will give the French World Cup winner a few matches to prove his fitness, ahead of the transfer window opening. United have been linked with a December move for Declan Rice, the West Ham midfielder. Given United could see both Pogba and Nemanja Matic leave at the end of the season, there is a need for United to secure at least two midfielders by the start of next season.

Further, with Fred still struggling to impress, Scott McTominay not yet proven, and Ander Herrera and Marouane Fellaini still not replaced, there is a real lack of depth in midfield, which needs to be addressed. Keeping Pogba in his current form would probably be an enormous waste of time.