Manchester United are hopeful Paul Pogba will recover from injury before the March international fortnight.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: “I hope we will, definitely. And he’s very positive. He’s working really hard. He knows when he gets back we haven’t got two or three games to play him into form, so he’s working hard on his fitness. And when you’ve got the quality of Paul fitness is the main thing. Mentality wise, you know when the sun is out in Manchester there’s nothing to complain about!”
Solskjaer confusingly claimed Donny van de Beek was a ‘doubt’ for the trek to Crystal Palace even though the Dutchman returned to the squad at Chelsea on Sunday. Van de Beek, 23, was an unused substitute again at Stamford Bridge and has not played since the 2-2 draw with West Brom on Valentine’s Day.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Van de Beek said: “He’s not there yet completely. Where we want him to be or he wants to be, so he’s still a doubt for tomorrow.”
Van de Beek has figured in 13 of United’s 26 Premier League games. Pogba, 27, has missed the last six games with a thigh injury and is not expected to be available for the Manchester derby at City on Sunday. The Leicester tie is United’s last fixture in March and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Pogba’s rehabilitation is focused on him hitting the ground running for when he does return.