Paul Pogba is expected to be out until December in a fresh injury blow to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United.
Solskjaer confirmed that Pogba’s ankle injury was worse than first believed after Sunday’s 3-1 win at Norwich City.
The midfielder has played just two of United’s last 10 games due to the problem, first sustained in a draw at Southampton in August.
“I don’t think we’ll see him before December,” Solskjaer said regarding Pogba. “He’ll be out for a while.
“He needs time to fully recover. Maybe Sheffield United [on 24 November] after the international break, but it’ll probably be December before we can see him.
“I’m not a doctor but there is an injury there that needs healing,” the United manager added.
Pogba briefly returned from injury to play against Rochdale and Arsenal in late September but only aggravated the problem.
The 26-year-old travelled to Dubai to work on his recovery before the recent October international break but remains sidelined.
Pogba is now set to miss United’s next seven games, starting with Wednesday night’s EFL Cup fourth round tie away to Chelsea.
United travel to Bournemouth next Saturday before home games against Partizan Belgrade and Brighton and Hove Albion.
Solskjaer suggested Pogba could play at Bramall Lane in late November, though that would appear to be a best-case scenario.
As it stands, Pogba may target Aston Villa’s visit to Old Trafford on 1 December as a return date.
Meetings with Tottenham Hotspur and the first Manchester derby of the season follow shortly after.
