Paul Pogba must show his class in Manchester derby to prove he is one of game’s top stars
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PAUL POGBA looks like a genuine world-beater in Juventus’ teary, three-minute showreel to say goodbye.
In it, the midfielder scores every type of goal and pulls every trick imaginable.
Right foot, left foot, headers — Pogba looks to have the lot.
At Old Trafford, when the Manchester derby really gets going, Jose Mourinho needs a bone-shaking performance out of his world-record signing.
It feels like it has been a long time coming. Whatever his attributes, English football has never seen Pogba at full pelt.
Flashes, yes. Commanding, no.
In training, the player who regularly makes jaws drop with his ability on the ball is Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
In Pogba’s two games for United — the victories against Southampton and Hull — he has been quietly easing himself in to the Premier League. Tomorrow’s game, with the pace, the power and the intensity of the Manchester derby, is made for superstars.
Remember Wayne Rooney’s stunning overhead kick against City at Old Trafford in 2010-11.
Or Edin Dzeko’s strike in the 6-1 demolition of United at Old Trafford the following season.
It is time for Pogba to make his mark in Manchester.
This week, in central midfield for France’s World Cup qualifying 0-0 in Belarus, Pogba was subdued alongside N’Golo Kante and Moussa Sissoko.
It was the same story at Euro 2016, where Antoine Griezmann and Sissoko left him in the shade. There is no hiding place in the Manchester derby.
The bar has been set unusually high for Pogba — but that comes with the territory after returning to United for £89million.
He is expected to dominate games in a way Yaya Toure once did for Manchester City.
It took Toure six months or more to really get going following his 2010 arrival from Barcelona.
At the beginning he played and acted like he was doing them a favour. It is very different for Pogba because he is already accustomed to Manchester life.
When he returned from Juve, he revisited his favourite Cheshire restaurants and even began serving behind the bar in one, much to the amusement of the locals.
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He will be at home tomorrow, with the 100 per cent records of United and City at stake.
There will be no Toure for City with Pep Guardiola settling on Fernandinho and Kevin De Bruyne in midfield. It is there, in the boiler room, that Pogba must excel. For City fans travelling tomorrow, they have already seen Pogba’s best.
When Juventus won 2-1 at the Etihad in the Champions League last September, he was in the mood to make things happen.
It is when he plays like that, with tempo and swagger, that Pogba begins to stand out.
That is why Mourinho paid the big bucks to sign him from Juve.
Historically, the Special One has always relied on a dominating presence in the centre of midfield.
At Chelsea first time around it was Frank Lampard and eventually Michael Ballack. In his second spell, he brought Nemanja Matic back to Stamford Bridge.
At Inter Milan it was Esteban Cambiasso and Javier Zanetti. At Real Madrid, he had the luxury of Xabi Alonso, Sami Khedira and Lassana Diarra in his squad.
At 23, Pogba has time to develop into a beast of a player.
Tomorrow is the perfect time to show people why Mourinho was so desperate to bring him home.
Don't fight this Phelan
BEING manager of the month is the least of caretaker Hull boss Mike Phelan’s worries — but it will be a travesty if he does not win it today.
The award is meant to honour those who make the best of their resources. Phelan had just 13 fit players before they beat champions Leicester on the opening day.
Forget the celebrity managers Mourinho, Guardiola and Conte — Phelan is worthy of recognition.
Big fact Sam
SAM ALLARDYCE’S reliance on statistics did more than enough to justify Wayne Rooney’s central midfield role against Slovakia.
Despite his deep-lying position, England’s captain created more goalscoring opportunities (three) than any other player.
Only Eric Dier (94) had more touches of the ball than Rooney (92). Allardyce concedes privately he made an error by announcing Rooney “could play wherever he likes” because he has more experience of international football.
Big Sam was not helped by the clumsy squad announcement ahead of Slovakia listing Rooney as a midfielder.
Allardyce later claimed it was a mistake and he would play off the striker.
Stay up 'n he Wil rake it in
JACK WILSHERE’S deal with Bournemouth involves a bonus if they stay up.
The Cherries have already picked up the £2million loan fee, along with his £80,000-a-week wages and £50,000 for each appearance.
But there will be a further cash benefit to Wilshere if they survive again.