Paul Pogba could be sidelined for up to eight weeks after being forced to withdraw from France duty due to thigh injury picked up in training… as under-fire Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer suffers another blow
- Paul Pogba has withdrawn from international duty with France this month
- The Man United star pulled up with a thigh injury during training on Monday
- Pogba yelled out a groan during a shooting drill at their Clairefontaine base
- The midfielder has been replaced by Jordan Veretout for their two games
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has suffered another major setback as Paul Pogba could be out of action for the rest of the year.
The United midfielder is expected to be sidelined for between six and eight weeks after he sustained a thigh muscle injury on international duty for France.
Pogba still has one game of a three-match domestic suspension to serve following his red card against Liverpool last month, so he would have been unavailable for the trip to Watford after the international break anyway.
Paul Pogba has withdrawn from France duty after picking up a thigh injury during training
He suffered the injury during an one-on-one shooting drill at their Clairefontaine training base
However, as soon as he took the shot, Pogba immediately pulled up lame with a muscle issue
France manager Didier Deschamps (right) went over to check on the stricken midfielder
Pogba was unable to continue the session and had to be assisted off the pitch by a coach
But the 28-year-old could miss a further 11 games if the injury keeps him out for the busy Christmas fixture programme and into the new year.
Pogba damaged a right thigh muscle attempting a shot in training at France’s Clairefontaine training base on Monday night and was forced to withdraw from the squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Finland.
The injury is another setback for Solskjaer, who is already without his French compatriot Raphael Varane for another four weeks due to the hamstring injury he suffered in last week’s Champions League draw with Atalanta in Italy.
Reports in France say Pogba will be out for six to eight weeks in a blow to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
France confirmed that Pogba has been withdrawn and Jordan Veretout has replaced him
The United boss, who has returned to Norway with his family for a short holiday, is under intense pressure after defeats against Liverpool and Manchester City, and desperately needs his best players fit as he battles to save his job.
Edinson Cavani missed the derby and is having treatment for a recurring tendon problem. Cavani said: ‘Before the season, I had discomfort in the tendon and it made me spend a couple of weeks out. It was improving but after Tottenham it started coming back.
‘I decided to have the treatment so that it does not get worse.’
Last month, he was sent off for a reckless challenge on Liverpool’s Naby Keita at Old Trafford
Pogba’s absence is set to take him beyond January 1, when he will be able to open talks with foreign clubs over a free transfer next summer.
Sportsmail revealed last week that Pogba remains open to signing a new contract at Old Trafford – even though United declined to offer him new terms in the summer of 2019 when he made a personal approach to the club.
However, the United hierarchy are said to be losing hope of striking a deal before Pogba’s contract runs out on June 30 when their £89million record signing can leave for free.
