Football

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer claims Fred can replace injured Paul Pogba in Manchester United’s midfield


Fred has been given a run in the Manchester United team with Paul Pogba currently sidelined through injury (Picture: Getty)

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes that Fred has the qualities to replace Paul Pogba in Manchester United’s engine room with the Frenchman set for an extended spell on the sidelines.

Pogba has played just twice for United since August due to a persistent ankle injury and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer doesn’t expect to have the 26-year-old available for selection again until December.

In Pogba’s absence, Fred has been given a consistent run of games for the first time in his United career, starting five of the club’s last seven matches in all competitions.

Following United’s encouraging 3-1 victory over Norwich City at Carrow Road on Sunday, Solskjaer was quick to praise Fred, saying that the Brazilian has been ‘brilliant’ recently.

Fred enjoyed a solid game during Manchester United’s win against Norwich City on Sunday (Picture: Getty)

‘I think his energy and drive – the two Brazilians to be fair, Fred and Andreas – they are going to be important for us,’ Solskjaer said. ‘Scotty [McTominay] was excellent, but Scotty is a different player.

‘Fred will probably take Paul’s position for a while now. He’s been brilliant for us. There is no use talking about who is not going to be here for a long, long time because he is not going to come on the pitch and help us until he is fit.

‘Paul’s been brilliant and he is a creative midfielder that we need, but then it is up to the others to step up.’

United beat competition from a host of clubs including Manchester City to sign Fred in a £52m deal from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2018 but he has struggled to live up to expectations throughout his time at Old Trafford.

Fred has rarely been a regular for the club but his partnership alongside Scott McTominay has shown signs of promise over the past couple of weeks during the draw with Liverpool and win over Norwich.

Discussing Pogba’s absence at the weekend, Solskjaer said: ‘I don’t think we’ll see him maybe before December. He’ll be out for a while. He needs time to fully, fully recover, so I don’t think he’ll be back.

‘Maybe Sheffield United (on November 24) after the international break but probably December before you can see him.’





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