Man Utd boss confirms key trio will miss Liverpool clash but duo set to return

Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed Paul Pogba, David De Gea and Jesse Lingard will miss Sunday afternoon’s huge clash with Liverpool at Old Trafford.

Pogba has struggled with a foot injury in recent weeks as he’s been forced to miss five of United’s last seven games and was ruled out of France’s Euro 2020 double header during the international break after aggravating the problem during the 1-1 draw with Arsenal at the end of September.

The midfielder spent time at the Transform Altitude Performance Center in Dubai last week as he looked to make a swift recovery and put himself in contention for the visit of Liverpool this weekend.

However, it appears the game will come too soon as Solskjaer has confirmed Pogba won’t be fit to take on Liverpool on Sunday – although the Man Utd boss hopes the Frenchman won’t be on the sidelines for much longer.

De Gea limped out of Spain’s 1-1 draw with Sweden on Tuesday night after picking up a groin injury early in the second half and Solskjaer has also confirmed the goalkeeper is expected to sit out this weekend’s clash with Liverpool.

The Spaniard will need further assessment before a time-frame can be put on his recovery but it looks as though Sergio Romero is set to deputise between the sticks against the Premier League leaders this weekend.

In a triple blow, Solskjaer has also confirmed that Lingard won’t be available on Sunday as he continues to overcome a thigh injury that he picked up against AZ Alkmaar at the start of the month.

However, there was some positive news for United as Solskjaer is hopeful Anthony Martial will be back in contention after recovering from a thigh injury that’s hampered him for several weeks.

In a further boost for the Manchester giants, Aaron Wan-Bissaka is also set for a return to the squad after overcoming a bout of tonsillitis so the England international could be recalled at right-back against Liverpool.

Solskjaer told Sky Sports.

“No chance [of Pogba or Lingard being fit]. Paul had an injury, he came back, he worked really hard. He came back and played a couple of games, maybe played through the pain barrier.

“He had a scan after the Arsenal game and maybe needed a few weeks’ rest in a boot so hopefully he won’t be too long, but he won’t make this game, no.”

“David needs a scan, I think he’ll be out. It certainly looked like it anyway judging on last night so it’s just one of those things.”

“I can’t tell you 100 per cent [who] is going to be fit as something might happen. But hopefully Aaron and Anthony will last the training this week and be available for selection. If it’s for half a game or 30 minutes I don’t know but let’s see where they’re at.”

United head into the weekend action sitting 12th in the table and just two points above the relegation zone so losing De Gea, Pogba and Lingard will come as a huge blow to Solskjaer as he looks to turn their season around with a positive result against Liverpool.

To make matters worse, Luke Shaw is also a doubt with an on-going hamstring injury, Mason Greenwood has a back complaint, Diogo Dalot is out with a groin problem, Phil Jones is struggling for fitness and Eric Bailly is out with a serious knee injury.

So Solskjaer has plenty of injury problems to deal with as he prepares to welcome the run-away league leaders to Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.