Paul Pogba has not played a competitive match in more than two years, with the former Manchester United midfielder's return to action with Monaco delayed once again
Paul Pogba at Monaco's Champions League match against Manchester City
Paul Pogba at Monaco's Champions League match against Manchester City
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Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba's return to the pitch will have to wait a bit longer.
The Frenchman's new club Monaco had been optimistic about him making a comeback against Angers this weekend, or at least against Spurs in their next Champions League outing. But it seems the matches have come too soon.
Pogba hasn't set foot on a football field in over two years, following a ban due to a positive doping test during his stint with Juventus. The ban was shortened on appeal after it was determined that his offence wasn't intentional, and he took his time before deciding Monaco was the best place to resume his career.
There were hopes that a return to form might see the 2018 World Cup champion put himself in the running for the 2026 tournament, having missed Qatar 2022 due to injury. However, more than two months into the season, he is still awaiting his debut to leave those international hopes hanging in the balance.
"We expected him to be available for the next match. That is no longer the case," Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro told reporters (as translated by GFFN). "Paul had a small problem last week that will cost us at least two more weeks.
"It is the first negative episode that we have had since we started the process with him. Given how long he has been out of activity, it can happen. It isn't the end of the world; we have just postponed for two weeks to prepare him better. We hope to have him available soon."
Paul Pogba during pre-season with Monaco
Pogba during pre-season(Image: Getty Images)
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Monaco will need to continue their quest for a first Champions League win without the 32-year-old midfielder. They followed a heavy 4-1 defeat away to Club Brugge by claiming a point at home to Manchester City, and sit 30th out of 36 teams after two rounds of the league phase.
Pogba failed to make a single appearance under Adi Hutter, the coach responsible for bringing him to Stade Louis II, before the Austrian was relieved of his duties during the October international window.
Monaco moved swiftly to secure Hutter's replacement, installing Sebastien Pogocnoli in the hot seat, but he too will need to wait before he can call on the former United star.
Sebastien Pocognoli taking Monaco training
Pogba has a new head coach at Monaco after Sebastien Pocognoli's arrival
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Belgian coach Pogognoli, who previously featured in the Premier League during his time with West Bromwich Albion, arrives having guided Union SG to Champions League qualification and a first win in the competition.
"I think that the process and the alignment of ideas on playing principles, the hunger to work on player development, which Sébastien has shown, and all of the staff that we have around the coach and the players, is all the security that we have to reduce the risk [of moving on from Hutter]," Scuro said of the new appointment. "Of course, there is risk, but we are ready to manage the risk and build another good season."
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