Paul Pogba ready to prove he is Man Utd’s best player as fit-again midfielder returns on level playing field
FOR the likes of Paul Pogba, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford and Son Heung-min, their return from injury will be unlike any other they will have in their careers.
And for Pogba especially, this is his chance to win back the hearts of Manchester United fans with his actions on the pitch. They all know how good he can be.
Normally when you return from injury, you’re behind your team-mates and that sharpness and match fitness takes time to reappear.
But what we will find in this rehab period is that everyone else is in the same boat.
All players will be starting on a level playing field and so they can hit the ground running at the same time in what is an incredibly unique situation.
The pressure will be off to get going as quickly as possible. But, for some the pressure will still be there simply because they weren’t performing before lockdown.
Pogba’s absence has been both physical and mental, with his agent suggesting he is eyeing a move away and is not interested in staying at Old Trafford.
Come Friday night, as Man Utd take on Spurs, all eyes will be on him to see how he reacts, as well as on how the fans take to him from behind their keyboards on social media.
But if he goes on to that pitch and shows everyone the player we all know he can be, then the supporters will not be bothered by his antics in the past.
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On his day he is still United’s best player and he will benefit greatly from the presence of Bruno Fernandes alongside him.
When I returned from injuries, the first game back you are just happy to get through because you are blowing out of your backside.
You push yourself hard because you know you need to get back to the fitness of your team-mates.
But for Rashford and Kane, that pressure will be slightly eased by the Euros being held back a year.
England’s star strikers need not force a challenge or overstretch in order to show Gareth Southgate they are ready.
Rashford was having a magnificent season before his back injury. He had gone up another level.
And much like Pogba, he now has someone in Fernandes who can bring the best out of him and find his darting runs inside.
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It will be interesting to see how Son reacts — he enjoyed having the responsibility of being Tottenham’s leading figure up front in the absence of Kane.
But deep down he will know that Kane is a better targetman.
And with how Jose Mourinho likes to play on the counter, Son is more than capable of continuing his fine form from out wide.
