MANCHESTER UNITED

PAUL POGBA IS THE MAIN REASON WHY MAN UTD ARE EIGHT POINTS ADRIFT OF CITY

The Frenchman's absence has proven to be a huge blow to United just as they were beginning to look impossible to stop

There were many figures in football who didn’t even wait for Manchester United to complete their purchase of Paul Pogba before weighing in with claims that the £89.5 million fee was unjustifiable. To them, the Frenchman would never be able to prove he was worth the world-record sum United were willing to fork out.

The summer of 2016 seems so long ago now, just 15 months on from the 24-year-old’s high-profile arrival. Far from struggling to add value to the United side, Pogba has quickly developed into Jose Mourinho’s key man. Not only were his performances of consistent quality to begin the 2017-18 campaign but the Red Devils have failed to come anywhere close to matching their early-season form since the Frenchman was struck down by a hamstring injury two months ago.

Pogba cannot come back quick enough, and it will come as a huge source of relief to United fans that he is expected to return to the matchday squad when Newcastle United roll in to Old Trafford next Saturday.