Doctor treating Paul Pogba gives update on hamstring problem
Paul Pogba of ManchesterUnited reacts to being forced off through injury during the UEFA Champions League Group A match between Manchester United and FC Basel at Old Trafford
A decision on whether Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba will need surgery to resolve his ongoing hamstring injuries has yet to be made, with the medical expert who is overseeing his recovery hinting he could recover without going under the knife.
Pogba limped out of United’s opening Champions League game against Basel earlier this month as his long-running hamstring problems reoccurred, with some reports suggesting the damage is bad enough to rule the France international out of action for the rest of 2017.
United manager Jose Mourinho described stories that his club record signing would not play again in this calendar year as ‘nonsense’, but the respected Finnish surgeon who will make a decision on his recovery programme has hinted at a long stint on the sidelines.
Finnish muscle repair specialist Sakari Orava was recently called upon to operate on Barcelona’s latest signing Ousmane Dembele, with the attacking star who cost €105m to sign from Borussia Dortmund in last month’s transfer window out for an extended period with a ruptured tendon.
While Dr Orava suggested Pogba may not need surgery, there are suggestions from United insiders that an operation may be required to ensure his hamstring injuries do not reoccur.
“His injury is a little different to Dembele, so Pogba can heal without surgery,” Dr Orava told Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat.
“This kind of problem is usually a sum of many coincidences and is affected by muscle fatigue as well as rapid stopping and quick turning, with the brain going quicker than the feet.”
Mourinho has been keen to avoid setting a time limit on Pogba’s return, which may add the suspicion that he could be a long-term absentee.
“I’m not going to cry or count the days for Pogba to return,” stated Mourinho. “Until he’s back, I trust my players. It’s a great opportunity for other players to play and I trust them all.”
