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How Manchester United could lineup when Premier League resumes

By Aditya Kashyap

Manchester United's French midfielder Paul Pogba makes a run during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Newcastle United at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on December 26, 2019. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester United's French midfielder Paul Pogba makes a run during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Newcastle United at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on December 26, 2019. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Right Central Midfield: Paul Pogba

Manchester United
Paul Pogba, Manchester United (Photo by David Lidstrom/Getty Images) /

The France international is the player who has been missed the most by Manchester United due to his recurring ankle injury. Despite numerous links of a move away from Old Trafford last summer, Paul Pogba stayed focussed to Solskjaer’s project and dictated the play from midfield.

However, tragedy struck when Pogba fractured his ankle, sending Manchester United’s season on a topsy-turvy ride until Bruno Fernandes arrived late in January. Since then, Red Devils faithful have been licking their lips at the prospect of Pogba and Fernandes featuring together.

To accommodate Pogba and Fernandes together, the former is set to operate in a double pivot, the midfield role in which Pogba excels for France national team.

Left Central Midfield: Nemanja Matic

After finding himself on the fringes of midfield hierarchy due to lack of sharpness and United management’s youth-only policy, Nemanja Matic looked set to leave Old Trafford at the end of the season.

But, a dearth of players at the center of the park amid injuries to Scott McTominay and Paul Pogba coupled with the Matic’s hard work to regain match fitness meant that Solskjaer placed his trust on the Serbian to anchor United midfield.

With his experience, former Chelsea man has guided the youngsters around him, with the team looking solid due to his effective shielding of the back-four.

In a bid to maintain midfield shape with two attack-minded midfielders in Pogba and Fernandes, Matic’s ability to drop the anchor will be crucial to stabilise the eleven.

However, depending on the type of game Solskjaer seeks from his number six, Scott McTominay, Nemanja Matic, and Fred could share the responsibilities among themselves.

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