Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has been described as ‘desperate’ to return to fitness and play a ‘leading role’ in what is likely to be a crucial season run-in for the Old Trafford club.
Pogba has hardly played since August as a result of two significant injury layoffs, the latter still ongoing after undergoing ankle surgery and keeping to a cautious recovery programme in order to avoid any further setbacks or relapses.
Since summer, the Frenchman has been heavily linked with a move away from United, with renewed gossip on that front emerging in the last couple of weeks alone.
Despite fresh media claims he is intending to leave, the Daily Mail writes that Pogba is determined to be back in action so that he can play a part in United’s attempt to break into the Premier League top four and qualify for the Champions League.
The newspaper suggests that Pogba hopes to resume full outdoor training with the rest of the squad within the next couple of weeks. His return to match fitness is expected to take another two weeks after that, putting a potential comeback by the middle of March.
The 26-year-old was forced to miss this week’s winter training camp in Marbella because he was still not fit enough to train and was left to work on his individual fitness programme instead.
The cautious approach to Pogba’s fitness appears well justified, with the 2018 World Cup winner thought to have twice played through injury at key moments this season and doing more damage, notably during his last attempted comeback in December.
Pogba has the additional motivation of returning to fitness as soon as possible in order to prepare himself for Euro 2020 with France. National team coach Didier Deschamps will want his star in good condition as Les Bleus aim to add continental glory to their 2018 global title.
It is worth noting that it is not an impossibility Pogba could want to both leave United this summer and also want to play a key role this season. It should also be acknowledged that a lot of media coverage surrounding him has been dominated by a negative narrative.
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Source : 90min