MANCHESTER United interim manager Ralf Rangnick has given a positive update on Paul Pogba’s recovery as the side get set to host Middlesbrough on Friday night.
Pogba has been out of action since being sent off in the 5-0 Premier League defeat to Liverpool on 24 October and he has missed 15 matches with a muscle injury.
The France midfielder is yet to play under Ragnick, but the German coach expects Pogba to be involved in the FA Cup fourth round clash against Middlesbrough at Old Trafford on Friday night.
“Paul will be part of the group,” Rangnick said on Thursday at his press conference to preview the tie. “He might even be in the starting XI.”
Rangnick provided fitness updates concerning other members of his squad ahead of the visit of the Championship side.
He said: “There are still a couple of players missing out. Edi Cavani will only return (from international duty in South America) on the weekend. He contacted me a week ago and asked me if he could have two more days at home and I allowed him because I knew that he couldn’t be in the starting XI anyway, with jet-lag and only coming back today or last night.
“So he won’t be part of the group.
“Victor Lindelof has been ill the whole week and not training. So he will also miss the game. The same is true with Jesse [Lingard], he asked me and the club if we could give him a couple of days off, just to clear up his mind.
“He will be back in the group I suppose next Monday, back for training, and then be a regular part of the whole squad again. Eric Bailly came back yesterday. He has some problems, a swollen ankle, and will therefore not be a part of the squad for the game.”
