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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
James Robson

Manchester United duo Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba can play big roles when season resumes, says Solskjaer

Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba will give Manchester United the edge when the Premier League season resumes, claims Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The pair are set to return from long-term injuries and expected to be ready to play when coronavirus restrictions are lifted.

Solskjaer is still preparing for the season to be completed, with United challenging on three fronts.

He has had to cope without Pogba for the majority of the campaign due to foot and ankle injuries, while Rashford was ruled out with a double stress fracture of the back in January.

But that duo are ready to give United a boost when the action begins again.

"Paul and Marcus have been out, now we've still got games left, and I think everyone in the league will start more or less on the same level,” Solskjaer told Sky Sports.

“Maybe they've got more motivation to keep going now, as they can see when they're back they may be on the same level or even a better level physically.

"In a way, they have got an opportunity here to play a bigger part in this season than they had hoped. And they are big players for us, some of the most important players.

(Getty Images)

"I've always been impressed with the players when we've had breaks. When we came back from pre-season they were really focused. We've had the mid-season break now, we did a few things tactically in Marbella in that week and they came back focused.

"We can kick on, I'm sure we can get a good start and climb up that table if we keep doing the right thing. Even with the FA Cup and Europa League, if that does go ahead, we've got good chances there."

United were on an 11-game unbeaten run when the season was suspended last month.

They are in fifth place in the Premier League and through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

They also put themselves on the brink of the last eight in the Europa League with a 5-0 first leg win against LASK in their final game before the shutdown.

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