Paul Pogba Injury Update: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Confirms Midfielder's Absence in Manchester United vs Leicester City Clash

Manchester, September 13: Paul Pogba heads a lengthy Manchester United injury list for the visit of in-form Leicester City to Old Trafford on Saturday with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer potentially missing seven first-team players.

Luke Shaw, Anthony Martial, Diogo Dalot and Eric Bailly will also definitely miss the clash with the Foxes, while Jesse Lingard and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are both doubtful after withdrawing from England’s Euro 2020 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Kosovo. Romelu Lukaku Misses Manchester United’s Friendly Trip Amid Transfer Talk.

Pogba twisted his ankle in the 1-1 draw at Southampton two weeks ago and did not play for France in their two matches during the international break, with the midfielder expected to return for the match at West Ham on 22 September.

Shaw (hamstring) and Martial (thigh) have still not recovered from the injuries sustained in the 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace on 24 August, while Dalot (hip) and Bailly (knee) are longer-term injuries.

"The treatment room has been busy and it still is," said Solskjaer. "We don’t really know who is going to be available.

"Maybe Aaron and Jesse will make it but that is it from the ones that pulled out.

"Paul will not be fit, not unless he has a miraculous recovery. He has not been ready to do training at 100%."

United are looking for their first win since the opening day of the season with draws at Wolves and Southampton either side of the Palace defeat leaving them down in eighth, three points adrift of Leicester in third.

- Tough game -

Under former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, Leicester are aiming to return to the top six at the expense of the likes of United, Chelsea, Arsenal or Tottenham, three years on from their remarkable Premier League title triumph.

"Leicester is always a tough game. They are a club that want to push into the top four, they have good players and a proven top manager," added Solskjaer.

"Brendan’s teams always play good football, so we have to play well to get the three points."

Leicester's visit will mean an early reunion with his old club for Harry Maguire, who swapped the Foxes for Old Trafford this summer in an £80 million transfer that made him the world’s most expensive defender.

And despite mixed results, Solskjaer is delighted with what Maguire has brought to the club in his first month at United.

"Harry has been brilliant for us," said the Norwegian. "He has come into the dressing room and been a leader there and a leader on the pitch.

"He is going to be a big part of the future of this club. We watched him enough to know he is the guy we wanted.

"Leicester did not want to lose him and that is why we spent the money we did on him."

Solskjaer also believes Maguire has the traits that mark him out as a potential future captain of United.

"He is definitely a character and personality that can be captain of a big club.

"He is a leader in the dressing room, both in his performances, his stature and his behaviour.

"Harry is a character you would like to follow. Some are technical leaders, some are leaders by voice, but he has got the lot."

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 13, 2019 05:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).