Manchester United manager confirms the duo will miss Sunday’s game at Old Trafford
Manchester United will prepare for Sunday’s Premier League clash against leaders Liverpool without the injured Paul Pogba and David De Gea, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said on Wednesday.
Goalkeeper De Gea was forced to leave the field during Spain’s Euro 2020 qualifier against Sweden on Tuesday.
“David needs a scan,” Solskjaer told Sky Sports. “I think he’ll be out. It certainly looked like it anyway judging on last night so it’s just one of those things.”
France midfielder Pogba has missed five of United’s last seven matches with an ankle injury, and after spending part of the international break recuperating in Dubai, Solskjaer said the 26-year-old is still not ready for first-team action.
“Paul had an injury, he came back, he worked really hard. He came back and played a couple of games, maybe played through the pain barrier,” Solskjaer added.
“He had a scan after the Arsenal game and maybe needed a few weeks’ rest in a boot so hopefully he won’t be too long, but he won’t make this game, no.”
United have recorded two wins in their opening eight league matches this season and sit two points above the relegation zone in 12th place.
Anthony Martial, Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are likely to return from the treatment room but Solskjaer is yet to make a decision on their availability.
“Hopefully, Aaron and Anthony will last the training this week and be available for selection,” the Norwegian coach added.
“If it’s for half a game or 30 minutes I don’t know but let’s see where they’re at.”
Liverpool have made a perfect start to the season with 24 points from eight matches and will look to equal Manchester City’s record of 18 consecutive top-flight victories when they visit Old Trafford.
Reinforce squad
Manchester United will try to sign one or two players in the January transfer window to improve their chances of finishing in the top four but will not spend big on transfer fees and wages, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said.
United are 12th in the Premier League ahead of Sunday’s home game against league leaders Liverpool after a poor start to the season that has been further disrupted by injuries to key players.
Solskjaer sanctioned the departures of forwards Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez in the close season without reinforcing United’s attack.
“We’re looking at one or two new signings. We’re one or two players light,” Solskjaer told Sky Sports. “If the right ones are available in January then we might do something. If not, these players will give everything (for a top four finish).
“I’m not going to go down the route of bringing players in on big contracts and big fees if they’re not the right ones for the whole group and for the future. The money is there to strengthen in January and in the summer.”
United started the season with a 4-0 win over Chelsea but have scored five goals in seven league matches since and Solskjaer said an injury to forward Anthony Martial, who has not played since August, was a factor in their struggles.
“There’s many reasons, but one of them is injuries to Anthony,” the 46-year-old former United player said. “Creating chances has been a challenge for us with teams dropping deep.
“But we’re practising patterns every single week. When we get the players fit, I’m going to make Marcus and Anthony score those scruffy goals, as that’s what I did.”