PAUL POGBA’S ABSENCE has given Jose Mourinho another headache as Manchester United look to revive their Champions League qualification hopes at managerless Middlesbrough on Sunday.
United midfielder Pogba will miss the Premier League fixture, plus France’s forthcoming matches against Luxembourg and Spain, with a hamstring problem sustained during Thursday’s 1-0 Europa League victory over Rostov.
Mourinho is hopeful Pogba, who has had an inconsistent season following his world record move from Juventus, will be ready after the next international break.
But the United manager will have to rejig his midfield as he attempts to boost his team’s challenge for a place in next season’s Champions League.
In truth, their best hope of qualifying for that competition may be to win the Europa League, given that they go into the weekend in sixth in the table, six points behind fourth placed Liverpool.
United must face Middlesbrough not only without Pogba, but also minus top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic and midfielder Ander Herrera, both suspended, and they may also be missing defender Daley Blind, who suffered a head injury against Rostov.
Thursday’s win set up a two-legged Europa League quarter-final tie against Anderlecht next month, but also added to the fixture congestion that has left Mourinho deeply unhappy.
The Portuguese coach was not pleased that their FA Cup quarter-final defeat at Chelsea, originally scheduled for last weekend, was moved to Monday so it could be televised.
He has also criticised the Premier League for ordering the match at Middlesbrough to kick-off at 1200 GMT, again to suit the demands of television, arguing that a later kick-off on Sunday would have given his players a crucial extra few hours to rest.
“We have lots of enemies. It’s difficult to play Monday with 10 men, it’s difficult to play on Thursday, it’s difficult to play 12 o’clock on Sunday,” he said.
“I don’t think it’s a funny situation. When I watch marathons and people go to their limit, I don’t think it is funny, and I don’t think it’s funny some of my players in six weeks play 11 matches.
“Play on Monday with 10 men, enjoying five hours on the M6 coming back to Manchester.
“We are living all these things and let’s see if Sunday we get a point. That would be great result.”
United captain Wayne Rooney, left out of the England squad for the forthcoming matches against Germany and Lithuania, has declared himself fit after a recent knee injury, and may be recalled.
Meanwhile, Steve Agnew insists he can fill the void left by the sacking of Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka.
The club’s assistant manager has stepped in as caretaker after the Spaniard’s stormy three-and-a-half year reign was brought to an end with the Teessiders second-bottom of the Premier League and in danger of an immediate return to the Championship.
The 51-year-old will be given an opportunity to prove himself until the end of the season, and has brought experienced former Scotland international Joe Jordan in as his number two.
Middlesbrough are assessing other potential candidates to succeed Karanka on a permanent basis, but Agnew says the club need look no further than him to lead a successful survival fight and to lay the foundations for a brighter future.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” he said. “I have had opportunities in the past but it didn’t feel quite right.
“I owe a lot to Middlesbrough, and to be given a chance is everything you need but then you have to grasp it.
“It’s a massive opportunity and it’s one I’m really looking forward to.”
Stewart Downing, the former England midfielder whose training ground bust-up with Karanka proved to be the final straw for the departed head coach, is likely to be restored to the side as Middlesbrough look to end a three-month stretch without a league victory.
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Strong convictions. Very admirable.
He had no problem in accepting the queens currency though.
Pity Sir AP didnt see it that way.
Or living under the protection of the British Empire
You’re right Alan, fair play to you. However I accept the Queens head myself living here in the north. But you reckon both myself and Howard protest too much and really have no room for protest because we support the British Empire by working for her majesty. But the thing is you see it’s not my fault or Howard’s fault that the British Empire encroaches upon the area in which we live. We are entitled to make a living at the very least and though we might not like elements of our history that have created the world in which we live, we can at least make some attempts to create a better world without having to commit hari kiri at the same time. Your argument seems to be ‘if you don’t like it go and live somewhere else’, something which the original founders of the British Empire would have liked us to have done. Well I’m sorry I’m going nowhere.
Alan sorry, two things wrong here. Firstly I’m not a Tyrone man and neither do I want to be, and secondly Howard Gayle didn’t accept his gong because of his ancestral background. Whether he personally came to live in the home of the empire or not is not the point, the fact is his forefathers probably had to come and live in the home of the empire because they had been raped and pillaged by the home of that empire and if they hadn’t come to live in that place they probably would have had an existence that is experienced in the colonies in the carribean and africa on a daily basis. What do you suggest his ancestors should have done. He did mention slavery also and as far as I know this was about giving people little choice. As far as I can see there is little difference between Howard Gayle and myself.
Gus excellent replies. Controlled, mature and accurate however I must lower the tone. Apologies for this. Alan b you’re some pr!ck.
Alan b, you’re deplorable man. Give it a break.
Howard Gayle didn’t “come from his own country” he was born in Toxteth , Liverpool.
Yes Paddy he didn’t ‘come from his own country’ but his parents/grandparents probably did. He was born in Toxteth but like many Irish the origins of his family are likely elsewhere.
Fair play to him countries like England have ruined half the world through colonialism.
Ruined or developed?
Developed????…..You need to brush up on your history mate….Plundered, pillaged and committed mass genocide around the world, including our own country.
Ian just as a matter of interest do you support any English football team?
No I don’t. I like watching football though.
Alan, I’m a Liverpool supporter since before I knew what colonialism was. Now that I’m a lot older I can say that I’m no fan of British imperialism but that isn’t going to affect the team I support. They’re two entirely different matters.
In todays modern world of over the top Political Correctness it takes alot to stand up for your beliefs.
Fair play to you howard.a man of principles…that would be if an Irish man would accept a knight hood….hold on a minute sir Bob did…
Sir Robert is from Blackrock. They long for a return to the motherland over that way.
Damn right. I wouldn’t take one either
I think you’re safe.
Fair play to him.
A man of conviction.
Bono, Geldolf and the rest of ye take note
Yes Phil. Also former ITN Newsreader Trevor McDonald take note and as for Irish people, didn’t the late Terry Wogan also receive a knighthood?
In fairness to Bono, he doesn’t use it. Nobody calls him Sir or anything like that.
Niall Quinn
Geldof or Niall Quinn couldn’t accept an honoury title because they are not citizens of a Commonwealth country. People like Tony O’Reilly could because they were born in Ireland before it became a Republic.
in other words..he told them to shove it up their jacksie…fair play to him
Hero – love when people turn down those sham honours
He’s a wee bit of a drama queen
Well you’re a dick.
Why cos I don’t toe the populist line , if it wasn’t for Britain , he would be off catching and selling goats for a living
No, it’s because you’re a sad b*stard looking for attention on the internet by making #edgy comments.
Jack trade and education are things a country can adopt with being colonized.
Jaysus Britain must be proud of you Jack Napier.
Not my fault someone pulls a race card to gain attention , Irish people have accepted this award , Irish also suffered too. Can’t understand why so many of ye are falling for this crap
Fair play to him
“Waits for Catbal Sheehan to write an anti British comment…”
You could at least get the spelling of his name right
Pulling the Race card or what , time to
move on
Absolutely! What a hypocrite.
You’d think he would have excepted on the basis on how things have changed now , I mean look at the Polish people and how they have moved on
denzel washington played for Liverpool ?
Yep, little-known fact. Didn’t quite work out in the long run so he took acting classes as the football dream died. I admire people who aren’t afraid to make a career change.
Howard is a man of principle who is trying to change the system as best he can.Having the courage of his convictions to turn down an “honour” from the very establishment who created the evils he sees wrong in the world is more of an honour for his bravery. Gus Lennon your points are spot on and get right to the very root of the toxic nature of empire, well said, sir. Anyone else who disagrees with Howard and Gus really needs to take a crash course in history. To disagree with such noble and principled stances is to be a tool of the imperial establishment.