OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER has revealed Paul Pogba could be starting for Manchester United in their Boxing Day clash with Newcastle.
Pogba, 26, made his first appearance since September in the 2-0 defeat at Watford, coming off the bench for a brief cameo.
How Man Utd could line-up for Newcastle, with Pogba back in the XI
The World Cup winner has been struggling with an ankle injury and then illness but Solskjaer has revealed he is fully fit to play.
The United boss said: “He did really well when he came on [against Watford].
“It’s a big, big plus and it might be that we do get him in from the start [against Newcastle] because you just want to get more and more [quality] into the team.
“He can play anywhere. He can play as a holding midfielder, he’s a box-to-box midfielder.
“He can drop deep, get it, play those long passes, he can play higher up and combine like he did [at Watford].
“He and Anthony [Martial] and Marcus [Rashford] started creating chances down that side so it depends on the game.”
“BEST IN THE WORLD”
Mason Greenwood could be thrown into the team for some more goal threat
Solskjaer went on to call Pogba the “best all-round midfielder in the world” – adding it’s “great to have him back.
The Old Trafford boss added: “That’s the beauty of having Paul because he is the best all-round midfielder in the world.
“He can perform all roles, but if I play him low, [some people will say] he should have played high and, if I play him high, I should have played low.
“There’s always going to be that discussion with him. But it’s great to have him back.”
Pogba is likely to replace Fred in the only change from the Watford loss, alongside Scott McTominay in midfield.
David De Gea, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw should start in defence.
Daniel James, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford are set to start behind Anthony Martial in attack.
However, Solskjaer has admitted it’s “hard to drop” Mason Greenwood amidst his hot run of form.
Greenwood could replace Martial, who struggled in the game at Vicarage Road, while Pogba could start in place of Lingard in the roaming No10 role.
In that instance, Fred is likely to keep his place alongside McTominay in the deeper midfield spots.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Paul Pogba is ready to start in Manchester United’s Boxing Day clash against Newcastle
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
