Manchester United must plug the gap if star midfielder Paul Pogba faces a lengthy lay-off… but how can Jose Mourinho do it?
Our friends at Football Whispers look at the options as Jose Mourinho crosses his fingers over the Frenchman's injury
MANCHESTER UNITED'S return to the Champions League after a two-year absence went exactly to plan for Jose Mourinho. Well, almost.
The Red Devils steamrolled Swiss champions Basel at Old Trafford, romping to a 3-0 victory thanks to goals from Marouane Fellaini, Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford.
However, just 19 minutes into the match, star man Paul Pogba over-extended in a challenge and appeared to injure his hamstring, leaving the field to be replaced by Fellaini.
Our friends at Football Whispers have taken a look at how United could plug the hole that Pogba will leave if he is out of the team for any length of time.
Although the full extent of the injury has not yet been revealed as the club await the outcome of scans, Mourinho, speaking to MUTV after the game, said he expects to be without his record signing for a little while.
“I don't know (what the severity is),” the former Chelsea and Real Madrid manager said. “I just know from experience it's a muscular injury.
"In my experience, muscular injury stops you from playing for a few weeks, I think. It looks for me too (like a hamstring injury) but I haven't spoken yet to the medical department.”
It is almost certain that Pogba will miss this weekend’s Premier League encounter with Everton, a fixture that stands out on the calendar as former United captain Wayne Rooney’s first return to Old Trafford since departing the club this summer.
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After a positive start to the season, winning their opening two fixtures and picking up a thoroughly impressive point against Manchester City at the Etihad, Ronald Koeman’s Toffees were brought back down to Earth with a bump last weekend, thumped 3-0 by a rampant Tottenham Hotspur.
Having spent well over £100million this summer in an attempt to bridge the gap to the Premier League’s established top six, and with the medium-term aim of Champions League qualification, Everton will be extra-motivated to show that the Spurs humiliation was simply a blip when they arrive at Old Trafford.
And the Merseysiders will be buoyed by the fact that United will be without Pogba, who has been in fine fettle so far this term, picking up two goals and three assists in the first four league games of 2017/18.
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Mourinho will have his work cut out to ensure that his side’s momentum is not unduly checked by the Frenchman’s injury. The Old Trafford club currently sit top of the Premier League pile, with three wins and a draw to their name.
Pogba’s influence has been key – the extraordinarily talented former Juventus star looks more at home in the Red Devils’ midfield, a frightening thought for prospective opponents – so his loss is a blow. But the Portuguese boss has built a strong squad at Old Trafford in order to see out tests such as this.
Nemanja Matic, a £35million summer signing from rivals Chelsea, has assimilated quickly to life at Old Trafford and he will remain the calming influence in Pogba’s absence, while the battle to take the Frenchman’s place will be fought between Ander Herrera and Fellaini.
The Belgian came on for Pogba against Basel and was excellent, offering his usual physicality and aerial prowess – opening the scoring with a header – but also looking more assured in possession.
Herrera, though, who made his first start of the season in last weekend’s 2-2 draw away to Stoke City, may well be the preferred option.
The Basque playmaker is positionally responsible, leading all Premier League midfielders with three interceptions per 90 minutes last term, and offers a greater degree of control and creativity than his wild-haired Belgian colleague.
Pogba’s injury has the potential to be devastating for United, but Mourinho will be confident that his back-up players can step up to the plate and see them through until their star man returns.
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