Manchester United get Paul Pogba boost

straight to your inbox Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was delighted Manchester United's plan for Paul Pogba came off in their 3-0 Carabao Cup win at Brighton. Pogba and Marcus Rashford emerged in the 69th minute with United 1-0 up and their introductions helped the visitors kick on and secure a quarter-final spot.

straight to your inboxOle Gunnar Solskjaer's attempt at humour about the dimensions of the goalframe at Brighton was clumsy if innocuous. He soon discovered that laughing at the expense of Jose Mourinho is like telling Joe Pesci he's a 'funny guy'.Mourinho is an expert in deadpan comedy and stand-ups would have marvelled at his delivery that Solskjaer would 'never accept to play with a 17-yard box, I think he would prefer a 22-yard box'.

straight to your inboxHere are your Manchester United morning headlines for Monday, 28 September.United fans call for Van de Beek decisionManchester United fans have expressed their desire to see Donny van de Beek start ahead of Paul Pogba in the club’s next Premier League game. Van de Beek is yet to start a league game for the Reds despite scoring against Crystal Palace after being summoned from the bench.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side won a stoppage time penalty to win 3-2.Pogba, meanwhile, has laboured in midfield, perhaps still recovering from suffering with coronavirus. Solskjaer selected the Frenchman alongside Bruno Fernandes and Nemanja Matic at Brighton and picked Scott McTominay against Palace.But it seems United fans have identified their preferred midfield trio.

Pogba has started both of United’s Premier League games this season starting alongside Bruno Fernandes and Nemanja Matic in the middle of the park for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. That has meant that summer arrival Donny van de Beek has had to settle for a place on the bench, coming on to score in his debut against Crystal Palace.

Solskjaer picks out two positives after Brighton winManchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer praised two of his players after the team’s 3-2 win at Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday. The Norwegian singled out Bruno Fernandes’ strong mentality and a fine Marcus Rashford goal as two of the few positives the Reds could take from their win at Brighton.

straight to your inboxManchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is still not fully fit despite recovering from coronavirus.Pogba was substituted just after the hour mark in the second Premier League match running after another subdued performance in United's win at Brighton.The 27-year-old tested positive for COVID-19 last month and started training with United just over two weeks ago and was selected in the starting XI against Crystal Palace last week but struggled.Despite Pogba's form, United

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made three changes from the United side that lost 3-1 to Crystal Palace last weekend, with Matic, Mason Greenwood and Aaron Wan-Bissaka all coming back into the side. Daniel James, Scott McTominay and Timothy Fosu-Mensah all drop out, while there is no place in the starting 11 for Donny van de Beek or Eric Bailly, who are both on the bench.

straight to your inbox There are certain questions you can pretty much predict will be asked at any of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's press conferences at the moment.

Manchester United travel to Kenilworth Road looking to chalk up their first competitive win of the new season, though for the Hatters and Tunnicliffe in particular it will be a very special occasion. Tunnicliffe, Pogba and Jesse Lingard were all part of the successful United Under-18s side that won the FA Youth Cup in 2011.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has picked a team that does not include new signing Donny van de Beek or returning goalkeeper Dean Henderson, with both players on the bench. Timothy Fosu-Mensah also plays at right-back, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka a surprise omission.

straight to your inboxManchester United fans have laughed off suggestions from Liverpool supporters that their new signing Thiago Alcantara is a better piece of business than the Reds re-signing Paul Pogba from Juventus.Thiago has dominated the headlines since the transfer window opened after signalling his intention to leave Bayern Munich with just one year remaining on his current contract.

straight to your inboxMaybe the most disappointed at Manchester United passing on Gareth Bale are Adidas. Their client will sport the swoosh at Tottenham rather than the three stripes he has donned for seven years with club and country and Adidas have been denied a star pairing.The prospect of Bale and Paul Pogba posing in Adidas regalia would have doubtless made a banner on the East Stand exterior but those mythical days of sportswear sponsors part-financing transfers are distant.

straight to your inboxThere are question marks over the fitness of several Manchester United players going into this weekend's Premier League clash with Crystal Palace. Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata, Fred, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Eric Bailly only returned to United training on Monday, while Bruno Fernandes began his work at the Aon Training Complex over the weekend.

straight to your inboxDimitar Berbtaov believes Donny van de Beek should take up a deep-lying role in the Manchester United midfield.United signed Van de Beek for €39million rising to €44m from Ajax and he is expected to make his first appearance in today's pre-season friendly with Aston Villa.However, the 23-year-old will not play alongside Paul Pogba, still striving for match fitness after recovering from coronavirus, and Bruno Fernandes has not been at United's Carrington training complex

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed Luke Shaw would feature after recovering from injury, though Mason Greenwood, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Paul Pogba and Juan Mata are among those unlikely to feature.

straight to your inbox Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admits Paul Pogba is a doubt for Manchester United's season opener against Crystal Palace next week. The MEN revealed Pogba has returned to training after his recovery from coronavirus but will not travel to Aston Villa for Saturday's pre-season friendly.

at United in 2016. There were reports of a rift shortly before Mourinho's December 2018 exit, to be replaced by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

straight to your inboxAhead of the release of FIFA 21 in October, EA have revealed the top 100 highest-rated players on FIFA 21 Ultimate Team, with four Manchester United players included in the list.United midfielder Bruno Fernandes is the highes-rated player in the Reds squad, ahead of Paul Pogba, David De Gea and Marcus Rashford.

straight to your inbox Before signing for Manchester United Donny van de Beek spoke to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and heard about his plans for the club. Enthused by the vision, the Ajax midfielder was delighted to sign a five-year deal at Old Trafford.