"Been brilliant for us": Solskjaer admits key injury gives 26 y/o the chance to shine - opinion

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

As quoted by The Daily Mail, Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has placed his faith in Fred to step up in Paul Pogba’s absence.

What did he say?

The latter has been out of action for a number of games now with an injury, and Solskjaer recently admitted that he could be out until December.

Speaking before the Red Devils’ Carabao Cup clash against Chelsea on Wednesday night, the Norwegian chose to focus on the qualities Fred could bring to the table, instead of dwelling on missing their £89m man.

Watch Manchester United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

He said: “There is no use talking about who is not going to be here for a long, long time, because he (Pogba) is not going to come on the pitch and help us until he is fit. Paul’s been brilliant and he is a creative midfielder that we need, but then it is up to the others to step up.

“Fred will probably take Paul’s position for a while now and that’s been brilliant for us. The two Brazilians, Fred and Andreas, are going to be important for us.”

Chance to shine

Make no mistake about it, Pogba’s injury has well and truly opened the door for another one of United’s big-money signings to really lay a marker down and stake a claim for a regular first-team place. Fred struggled to adequately settle into life in English football last season, and managed just 25 appearances across all competitions.

Since missing the early weeks of the current campaign, the Brazil international has fought back in recent weeks to become a major part of Solskjaer’s side in the middle of the park. He has played the full 90 minutes in his last three Premier League outings, and that streak of continuously playing regular games should help him find a much-needed rhythm to his performances.

So when Pogba does eventually return from his injury, it will have been up to the 26-year-old himself to prove that he shouldn’t be the one to make way for the France World Cup winner.

from FootballFanCast.com https://ift.tt/2BZGkG6