In a pre-match press conference ahead of Manchester United’s encounter versus Leicester City at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer provided a worrying injury update and said (via talkSPORT), “The treatment room’s been busy and still is. So we don’t really know who’s gonna be available… there’s maybe Aaron [Wan-Bissaka], maybe Jesse [Lingard] and I think maybe that’s it from the ones that pulled out [of international duty]. But I can’t promise those two will be available either.
“We hope more can be ready for West Ham next week and Paul [Pogba] and Anthony [Martial] are in that category; I think they’ll be ready for then and I can’t say more than that really.”
The Norwegian head coach also went on to add (via reuters.com), “Pogba won’t be fit unless he has had a miraculous recovery overnight or before the game. But you have players who can come in with loads of experience — Juan (Mata), Nemanja (Matic), Ashley (Young). They are the ones who have to step up now.”
Having so many first-team players out of action for this weekend’s league clash versus the Foxes will be a bitter pill to swallow for the Red Devils. Man United has made a shaky start to this campaign following their 4-0 win against Chelsea in the opening weekend of this campaign. Solskjaer’s men have gone on to draw two and lose one of their past three matches in the English top-flight.
What Does The Talented Trio Add To Solskjaer’s Side?
Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial and Luke Shaw are all set to miss out on tomorrow’s clash at the West Midlands which will hamper Solskjaer’s chances of claiming a positive result versus Brendan Rodgers’ men. All three players have impressed at times for the Mancunian outfit in this calendar year.
Pogba is a world-class midfielder who can score or create goals from midfield when he is playing with confidence on the field. Martial also adds another dimension to Solskjaer’s frontline as he has the pace and guile to cause problems for the opposition defenders in the final third.
Man United felt the absence of Luke Shaw in their 1-1 draw versus Southampton before the international break. Ashley Young is comparatively a vulnerable defender at the back and doesn’t possess the ability to stretch the pitch and get to the by-line.
Pogba, Martial and Shaw Won’t Be Available This Weekend: Massive Blow For Man United?
Thus, losing all three players at once will be a huge blow for the Red Devils as they look to turn things around for the better in the coming weeks. The only positive for Solskjaer is that Pogba and Martial won’t be out for long as they are set to be available for the West Ham United trip later this month.
