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Man Utd team news: Predicted 4-2-3-1 line up vs Newcastle – Solskjaer makes Pogba decision
Manchester United could welcome Paul Pogba back to their starting XI when the Red Devils face Newcastle at Old Trafford this evening (5.30pm).
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Paul Pogba could return to the Manchester United starting XI when the Red Devils take on Newcastle. The French midfielder made his return from an ankle injury last time out against Watford, coming off the bench in the 2-0 defeat at Vicarage Road.
And Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hinted that Pogba could come into the starting XI on Boxing Day as United look to get back to winning ways.
When asked whether Pogba would feature from the off against Newcastle, Solskjaer said: “Let’s see how he reacts to this [Watford game] and how he feels.
“He did really well when he came on. It’s a big, big plus and it might be that we do get him in from the start [against Newcastle] because you just want to get more and more [quality] into the team when he plays.
“He can play anywhere. He can play as a holding midfielder, he’s a box-to-box midfielder. He can drop deep, get it, play those long passes, he can play higher up and combine like he did [at Watford].
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“He and Anthony [Martial] and Marcus [Rashford] started creating chances down that side so it depends on the game.
“That’s the beauty of having Paul because he is the best all-round midfielder in the world.
“He can perform all roles, but if I play him low, [some people will say] he should have played high and, if I play him high, I should have played low. There’s always going to be that discussion with him. But it’s great to have him back.”
The World Cup winner could replace Jesse Lingard in the No 10 role, although he is also capable of playing in a three-man midfield alongside Fred and Scott McTominay.
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Meanwhile, Diogo Dalot is also available after making his return from injury during the Under-19s’ friendly victory over AC Milan on Friday night.
However, Eric Bailly, Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Marcos Rojo are still short of match fitness and will not feature.
David De Gea should continue in goal despite a howler against Watford, and it will be a surprise to see Sergio Romero displace the Spaniard.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire will line up in defence once more but Luke Shaw could make way for Ashley Young at left-back.
Daniel James has looked jaded in recent weeks and is in danger of losing his starting berth to Mason Greenwood after an eye-catching cameo last time out.
Finally, Marcus Rashford will start on the left and Anthony Martial is expected to lead the line – despite both players blanking in the past two matches.
As for Newcastle, Steve Bruce is coping with an extensive injury list as Jamaal Lascelles, Matt Ritchie and Allan Saint-Maximin remain sidelined.
Ciaran Clark is also out while Jetro Willems and Paul Dummett are doubtful, leaving the Magpies short of defensive cover.
The two sides are currently separated by goal difference in the Premier League table, and Solskjaer is expecting a tough match against the North East outfit.
"It's going to be difficult to break Newcastle down,” he said.
“I expect that we'll get the fair share of the possession. We were disappointed when we had more than 70% possession up there [in the reverse fixture] and we lost the game.
"One of the good things about our team this year, we have reacted well after bad results. We haven't kept the consistency as we'd like the other way, but we've also not gone on a big run like we did towards the end of last season. So there will be a reaction definitely."
Manchester United predicted line-up vs Newcastle United – Premier League
(4-3-3): De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Young; McTominay, Fred; James, Pogba, Rashford; Martial