Paul Pogba is set to miss the majority of Manchester United’s February fixtures after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed the Frenchman will be sidelined for a ‘few weeks’ with a thigh injury.
Pogba was forced off shortly before half-time in United’s 3-3 Premier League draw against Everton at Old Trafford and looked in pain as he walked down the tunnel.
He was replaced by Fred on Saturday while Donny van de Beek and Nemanja Matic were others options that could have been utilised from the bench.
Solskjaer said that Pogba has started his recovery but stated that United will not takes any risks in a preemptive return to action.
“It’s an injury that will take a few weeks to heal,” he told MUTV.
“He’s just started his recovery, working with the medical staff and we’ll get him back as soon and as safely as we can.
“Of course, Paul has been very important for us and we’re not going to take any risks. [He’s out for] a few weeks, definitely.
“You never want to be injured and, especially, now Paul was really finding his form and enjoying his football. For us, we just have to take as many points and wins as possible, when you lose players.
“We’ve been very healthy and strong for a long period so we can’t moan too much.”
Pogba’s absence is a big blow for United as the 27-year-old was producing some of his best football for the Reds after recovering from an ankle injury in November.
He beat Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire to United’s January Player of the Month award for match-winning goals away to Burnley and Fulham and will miss some key fixtures in the coming weeks.
Pogba will be unavailable for Tuesday’s FA Cup tie against West Ham, Premier League games against West Brom and Newcastle and both legs of the Europa League round-of-32 tie against Real Sociedad.
United visit Stamford Bridge to face Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea on February 28, and Pogba will be aiming to make a full recovery for that fixture with the Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium to be played a week later.
Man Utd fixtures that Paul Pogba could miss this month:
Manchester United vs West Ham [FA Cup Fifth Round] – Tuesday 9 February
West Brom vs Manchester United – Sunday 14 February
Real Sociedad vs Manchester United – Thursday 18 February
Manchester United vs Newcastle United – Sunday 21 February
Manchester United vs Real Sociedad Thursday 25 February
Chelsea vs Manchester United – Sunday 28 February
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