Man Utd team news update: OGS confirms 4 key players are set to miss Newcastle trip

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer doesn’t expect to have any of his key players back from injury when Manchester United take on Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Sunday afternoon.

United were without Paul Pogba for their disappointing 0-0 draw with AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League group stages on Thursday night after the midfielder aggravated an ankle injury during the 1-1 draw with Arsenal earlier this week.

Solskjaer was asked for an update on Pogba’s condition after last night’s game and he admitted that the Frenchman is highly unlikely to be fit to face Newcastle this weekend. Instead, the Man Utd boss suggested they will use the upcoming international break to get Pogba fit to take on Liverpool later this month.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka didn’t travel for last night’s draw with AZ due to tonsillitis while Anthony Martial is still recovering from a thigh injury that’s hampered him for the past five weeks and Solskjaer doesn’t expect any of his absentees to return against Newcastle on Sunday.

When asked if any of his key players will return from injury this weekend, Solskjaer is quoted by the Mirror as saying:

“I don’t know. Let’s see on Saturday morning. Probably not. ”

[On Pogba being fit] “Probably not, there’s an international break as well, so it might be time for us to give him 10 or 14 days extra to be ready for the Liverpool game.”

Jesse Lingard picked up a knock during the latter stages of United’s draw at AZ last night as he limped off shortly after coming off the bench after sustaining an apparent hamstring injury while chasing a long ball.

Solskjaer appeared optimistic after the game that the injury isn’t serious but the Man Utd boss still feels it’s unlikely Lingard will be available for Sunday’s trip to St James’ Park so he’ll be targetting a return against Liverpool.

On Lingard, Solskjaer told ManUtd.com:

“He tweaked his hamstring, so he didn’t feel like he could risk it. But hopefully it’s not too bad,”

“Probably not Newcastle, but [he should] be ready for Liverpool [in the Premier League on Sunday 20 October].”

Man Utd head into the weekend action in poor form as they’ve not won any of their last four games in all competitions and sit 10th in the Premier League table so Solskjaer will be desperate to get their season back on track on Sunday.