Paul Pogba being out for 12 weeks is just nonsense, along with many media reports recently…

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba suffered a hamstring injury against FC Basel in the clubs opening UEFA Champions League grup stage match nearly a week ago. It was suggested that United could be without the French midfielder for four to six weeks, which at the time seemed realistic if the damage was serious. It has been alleged that the player would be out of action for twelve weeks, which seems preposterous especially after manager Jose Mourinho confirmed that the player would miss a few matches in his press conference on Friday ahead of the 4-0 victory over Everton in the Premier League on Sunday.

After the victory over Everton at the Theatre of Dreams, Mourinho was asked about Pogba being sidelined for 12 weeks, which was reported by Duncan Castles on Sunday. The Portuguese manager dismissed the rumours, which is good news for United, as if it was true, the club would have made a statement to confirm the report, but instead it would seem that is was mere speculation, probably to sell newspapers and increase traffic on a certain website, with the newspaper making a killing on advertising and subscriptions. A winner for them, whether you are reporting facts or speculation.

Mourinho has stated that the exact nature of Pogba’s problem would not be found out until the player had undergone another scan on the problem area. Speaking through the official Manchester United website, Mourinho said:

    “I don’t know if it is 12 weeks or 12 days, honestly.

    “Any comment or any new rumour is totally wrong because we don’t know if it is 12 weeks or 12 days. The player was diagnosed initially after the match because of the conditions of the muscle and the bleeding. The decision was one more week to wait to see really clearly in the scans, that I mentioned, of the injury.

    “Nobody in this club spoke about 12 days or 12 weeks. Not at all. In the hamstring, it’s a normal procedure and we wait a few more days. So it’s completely nonsense information.”

Pogba’s injury was a big blow for United, but on Sunday, and after he suffered the injury, Marouane Fellaini played well as the stand-in player for the Frenchman. Fellaini scored the opening goal against FC Basel on Tuesday, with United scoring a further two goals through Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford. On Sunday against Everton, Fellaini was the man to step in for Pogba, again playing to the best of his abilities. Fellaini, in this form, is a great player for United and Mourinho, a manager who trusts the Belgian.

Pogba being out of action, for however long it may be, will be a blow but with the likes of Michael Carrick, Ander Herrera and even Scott McTominay on the outside looking in, United have players to stand in if necessary. Pogba’s injury may not turn out to be as bad as first feared, or how it has been reported, which would be good, but until the club make further comment, nothing that has been reported has been confirmed, so it could well be more speculation.