Man Utd team news: Solskjaer confirms triple fitness boost + Pogba update

Manchester United will look for a positive result when they take on AZ Alkmaar in their final Europa League group stage game on Thursday night.

Ahead of the match, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has provided a team news and injury update to ManUtd.com and confirmed that Nemanja Matic is set to make his long-awaited comeback after recovering from a muscle injury that’s kept him on the sidelines for the past two months.

There is further good news on Diogo Dalot as the defender is now back in full training after overcoming a niggling groin injury while Marcos Rojo is also expected to resume full training next week as he looks to return from a muscle problem.

The Man Utd boss also revealed that Eric Bailly is set to train with the main squad next week as he steps up his recovery from a serious knee injury while Timothy Fosu-Mensah is also close to returning to full fitness.

Solskjaer also provided an update on Paul Pogba after confirming the AZ Alkmaar game will come too soon for the midfielder as he edges closer to recovering from a troublesome ankle injury.

Solskjaer told ManUtd.com:

“Diogo [Dalot] is back training fully. Nemanja [Matic] is back. [Marcos] Rojo is hopefully back next week. Eric [Bailly] and Timothy [Fosu-Mensah] are training with the team from next week onwards.

“We’re getting better and better in that respect. In January, I reckon we will have many of them match fit.”

“Paul is not ready to play but won’t be far away,”

Solskjaer later spoke directly to the media at his pre-match press conference and expanded on Pogba after telling reporters that he hopes the Frenchman will be available again before the end of the year.

The United boss confirmed Matic should be involved against AZ tomorrow night but the game will come too soon for Dalot as he’s only had one days full training under his belt.

Solskjaer is quoted as saying by the Manchester Evening News:

“No, it’s too early yet [for Pogba]. We hope [he will be back before the end of the year], he’s working hard to get fit so hopefully we can get him back on the pitch.

“Matic is fit and due to be involved, yeah. He’s just started training. Dalot? One day training, so it’s a bit too early for Diogo.”

United head into tomorrow night’s game off the back of two excellent wins over Tottenham and Manchester City so Solskjaer will hope to build some momentum with another positive result against AZ at Old Trafford.

Manchester United have already qualified for the knockout stages but they need to avoid defeat to AZ in order to secure top spot in Group L and avoid some of the big hitters in the last-32 draw.