Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba's injury is 'long-term', confirms manager Jose Mourinho

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Jose Mourinho has confirmed that Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is now considered a ‘long-term’ absentee like his fellow injured team-mates Marcos Rojo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Pogba suffered a hamstring injury during United’s 3-0 Champions League victory over Basel earlier this month and has not played since, with no date pencilled in for his return.

Speaking ahead of Crystal Palace’s visit to Old Trafford on Saturday, Mourinho revealed that the France international will not be available for the foreseeable future.

“He's injured, he cannot play on Saturday and it's not an injury that I can have the hope like I have with Antonio Valencia or Phil Jones," Mourinho said.

“I have the hope to see them in training and to have a positive answer, so long-term injuries I don't speak about them.

“So Ibra and Pogba and Rojo, these players I don't think about them,” he added.

Both Rojo and Ibrahimovic ruptured their anterior cruciate ligaments last April and are not expected to return until late December at the earliest.

It was initially hoped that Pogba would be available for United’s meeting with Liverpool at Anfield on 14 October, but the midfielder now looks certain for a longer spell on the sidelines.

Valencia and Jones are doubts for the visit of basement club Palace having missed Wednesday’s 4-1 Champions League victory at CSKA Moscow.

“We have to train and to make decisions after training, but I hope some of the players that couldn't play in Moscow (can play),” Mourinho said.

“I hope maybe not all of them but some can recover. They were out and Saturday some will be out.

“What I am saying is that from all the injuries we have, I hope we can have some players available Saturday.”