Man United take on Middlesbrough in the 4th Round of the FA Cup and midfielder Paul Pogba is in line to make a comeback after his prolonged absence.
Paul Pogba has been out for a long time with a groin injury but he’s finally made a full recovery and could get his first start under interim manager Ralf Rangnick.
“Paul will be part of the group,” confirmed Rangnick at his press conference. “He might even be in the starting XI.”
Eager to see Pogba's role under Rangnick as he'll provide more quality and something different.
Let's gooo, PP! 🔥 #mufc pic.twitter.com/79L69togKi
— UtdFaithfuls (@UtdFaithfuls) February 3, 2022
But this is the only bit of positive news with as many as four first-team players set to miss out on Friday. Lindelof and Bailly are ruled out with fitness issues while Edinson Cavani and Jesse Lingard have been given extended breaks.
The manager added: “There are still a couple of players missing out. Edi Cavani will only return on the weekend. He contacted me a week ago and asked me if he could have two more days at home and I allowed him because I knew that he couldn’t be in the starting XI anyway, with jet-lag and only coming back today or last night.
“So he won’t be part of the group.
“Victor Lindelof has been ill the whole week and not training. So he will also miss tomorrow’s game. The same is true with Jesse [Lingard], he asked me and the club if we could give him a couple of days off, just to clear up his mind.
“He will be back in the group I suppose next Monday, back for training, and then be a regular part of the whole squad again. Eric Bailly came back yesterday. He has some problems, a swollen ankle, and will therefore not be a part of the squad tomorrow.”
Middlesbrough are not the strongest side so the absence of so many players is not going to be a major concern for the Man United manager. At the same time, this game will be ideal to bring Paul Pogba back into the fold.
The midfielder’s last game for United was in the first week of November and 60-odd minutes in the FA Cup will be the perfect opportunity for him to get his rhythm back.
With Fred likely to be rested because he came back late from international duty, Paul Pogba could be the one who starts in defensive midfield alongside Scott McTominay.
