Rangnick in contact with Pogba, anticipating midfielder's imminent return

Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick said on Friday he has spoken to midfielder Paul Pogba and that the Frenchman was due to recover from injury in the next month.

Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick said the midfielder Paul Pogba was due to recover from injury in the next month.

Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick said on Friday he has spoken to midfielder Paul Pogba and that the Frenchman was due to recover from injury in the next month.

Pogba, who is out of contract at the end of the season and could leave United on a free transfer, has been out since early November with a thigh injury and has spent time rehabilitating in Dubai.

However, the 28-year-old midfielder could yet become a part of Rangnick's plans at United as the German looks to revitalise the sixth-placed side since taking over last week.

"We spoke over the phone on Tuesday. He was still in Dubai, he is expected to come back today, and then we get to know each other in person on Sunday," Rangnick told a news conference ahead of Saturday's Premier League trip to Norwich City.

"We have had a telephone call. He told me he is getting better, but, obviously, he is still not fully fit. From what I have heard so far, it will take another couple of weeks until he can train again.

"And then he has been out for quite some time, so then it will take another couple of weeks to get him match-fit."

 

Pogba has made nine appearances in the league so far this campaign and has registered seven assists, but he has looked a shadow of the player who helped France win the World Cup in 2018.

The 28-year-old has been linked with several clubs in Europe and would be able to sign a pre-contract agreement with another team when the January transfer window opens.

Rangnick, meanwhile, said he would also speak to other players about their lack of game time next month.

"If I look at the number of players we have, it's still a big squad, we definitely do not have not enough players. We need to make sure that players want to stay here," the German said.

"If they see they're not getting enough game time here, it might make sense to speak individually with the players to see if a loan deal might make sense. But right now, it's still too early to speak about that."

United won Rangnick's first game in charge against Crystal Palace last weekend, and the club can make it three league victories in a row if they beat bottom side, Norwich.