Man Utd confirm Paul Pogba return as team news for Middlesbrough FA Cup clash released | Football | Sport

Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick has confirmed that Paul Pogba is in line to make his long-awaited return from injury when his side host Middlesbrough in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Friday night. Pogba has not appeared for the Red Devils since the start of November after injuring himself while training with France.

“Paul will be part of the group, he might even be in the starting line-up,” Rangnick told reporters on Thursday.

Pogba began the season in fine form and he racked up an incredible four assists on the opening weekend of the season as United thumped Leeds 5-1 at Old Trafford.

He provided three more assists in his next three games as the Red Devils began the season in fine form.

But United’s season started to take a turn for the worse at the end of September and they went on an egregious run of form, which ultimately saw former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer given his marching orders.

That period coincided with a downturn in fortunes for Pogba, who was sent off after coming on as a substitute in a 5-0 thrashing by Liverpool in late October.

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But Rangnick recently admitted he still intends to play the superstar between now and the end of the campaign.

“For me it’s not a question if a player has an expiring contract,” Rangnick said last month.

“The question is how much does he still want to be a part of this group – how much does he still feel emotionally and physically on board.

“As long as this is the case, why shouldn’t Paul Pogba play now after two and half months of injury?

“He’s fully fit again now and he also wants to show up – he wants to show the fans of Manchester United, the board, the whole world what kind of player he can be.

“And even if it’s only to show enough for a new contract elsewhere, he will be highly motivated to do that, so why should I then not play him?”