Manchester United news: Paul Pogba to return from injury before end of year, reveals Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Pogba has been unavailable for 14 matches due to a foot issue

Paul Pogba is still expected to return to action for Manchester United before the end of the year despite his protracted spell on the sidelines.

Pogba has missed United’s last 14 games with a foot injury that was first sustained during the draw at Southampton in late August.

The 26-year-old returned in late September, playing 90 minutes against Rochdale and Arsenal, but has spent the last two-and-a-half months unavailable to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Solskjaer initially claimed that Pogba would be ready to return in early December but he was only for enough to watch last week’s wins over Tottenham and Manchester City from the stands.

And Solskjaer has now confirmed that Pogba would not recover in time to play United’s final Europa League group stage game against AZ Alkmaar on Thursday night.

“No, it’s too early yet,” the United manager said. “We hope [he will play in 2019], he's working hard to get fit so hopefully we can get him back on the pitch.”

The midfield partnership between. Fred and Scott McTominay has started to blossom in Pogba’s absence, leading some to question whether United’s record signing would immediately regain his place.

Solskjaer suggested that Pogba’s return would be a formality last week, but did not offer any guarantees in the wake of United’s win at the Etihad.

“Let's get Paul fit first and back in form and he'll play loads of games,” he said. “For me he's one of the best players in the world and looking forward to having him back.”