Man Utd team news: Updates on Pogba, Sanchez, Maguire & more ahead of Chelsea clash

Manchester United get their new Premier League campaign underway with a mouth-watering heavyweight clash against Chelsea at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.

Ahead of the game, United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been speaking to the media at his first pre-match press conference of the new season and he’s provided a team news and injury update.

It sounds like Alexis Sanchez will miss the visit of Frank Lampard’s side this weekend as Solskjaer says the attacker is still ‘four or five’ weeks behind the rest of the first team squad having only recently recovered from an injury that he sustained with Chile at the Copa America.

Sanchez has been training well but has only featured in one behind-closed-doors friendly during pre-season so Solskjaer has suggested he won’t be ready to face Chelsea this weekend.

There is more positive news on Harry Maguire as United’s big-money summer signing is in-line to make his debut on Sunday after settling in well following his £80m switch from Leicester City.

Solskjaer also provided a positive update on Paul Pogba and the midfielder is expected to start against Chelsea after overcoming a minor back problem that’s hampered him in recent weeks.

Pogba missed the friendly against AC Milan amid speculation linking him with a move away from Old Trafford this summer but he returned for the game versus Blackburn and is available for selection this weekend.

It means Man Utd have a healthly squad to choose from heading into the opening game but obviously Eric Bailly will miss out against Chelsea as the defender is facing weeks on the sidelines through injury.

Solskjaer told ManUtd.com:

“Alexis has come in and trained well. Of course, he’s four or five weeks behind the boys and he’s not played apart from a one behind-closed-doors [friendly] here, so I think he’ll see this as an opportunity, as well, to make his mark.”

“Harry has impressed me, very much so. He has come in as a presence. He is taller and bigger than I thought. He has come in as a real plus. He will have an impact on the rest of the boys.

“Yeah, Harry is ready to play. I am sure he will put himself up, when I ask him on Sunday morning, if he is available, because he has played many games for Leicester over the pre-season. He has trained well and he has looked sharp when he has been here.

”Paul joined in, actually, the day after [the AC Milan match]. I wasn’t going to risk him, travelling down with the flight, but he joined in the game against Blackburn the day after, behind closed doors here. He is available. All of the boys are fit. It was always our aim to get to the starting line with as many players as fit as possible. Of course, Eric’s injury is bad news but the rest of them are available.“

One man who won’t be involved against Chelsea is Romelu Lukaku after he completed a move to Inter Milan on deadline day so youngster Mason Greenwood could be involved after impressing in pre-season.

New signings Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James are also set to make their debuts after joining Man Utd this summer as Solskjaer looks to get the new campaign off to a winning start against one of their direct rivals.