Nemanja Matic is set to play for Manchester United against AZ in the Europa League on Thursday but Paul Pogba is not yet ready to return, according to manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Matic, 31, has been sidelined with injury since a 0-0 draw with the Eredivisie side back in October.
The former Chelsea midfielder has been tipped to leave United in January, having found his place in Solskjaer s first-team plans come under threat during the opening weeks of the season, with Serie A clubs including Milan and Inter said to be interested.
Matic is due to be given a chance to impress at Old Trafford, though, as United go in search of the draw they need to secure their place as winners of Group L.
He s fit, Solskjaer said on Wednesday. He s due to be involved.
Solskjaer also confirmed it s a bit early for Diogo Dalot to return, the full-back having only this week resumed training, while midfielder Pogba is still not ready to play following a troublesome ankle injury.
It s too early, Solskjaer said of Pogba. We hope so [that he will return in 2019]. He s working hard to get fit so hopefully we can get him back on the pitch.
Let s get Paul fit first and then back in form and he ll play loads of games. He s one of the best players in the world and we re looking forward to having him back.
Our fans know their football and they re the best fans in the world, says the boss.
I ve only had positive contact with our fans and I m sure our relationship will stay that way.
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In the absence of Pogba and Matic, Fred has begun to cement his place at the heart of the midfield, the Brazil international producing arguably his best performances for the club in the past week in the 2-1 Premier League wins over Tottenham and Manchester City.
Fred s had the confidence of the coaching staff and me and the players all the time, said Solskjaer. This form is down to him because he s been working really hard. When he got the chance with Paul injured he grabbed it with both feet and we re really happy to see him perform at this level.
Those two wins over some of United s biggest rivals have eased the pressure on Solskjaer, which had been growing due to his team s frustrating lack of consistency.
Solskjaer, though, insists the belief in his plans to rebuild the team has never wavered, while he felt the decision to take largely a team of youngsters to Astana two weeks ago paid off thanks to the Spurs and City results.
Inside [the club], we ve always had belief in what we re doing. It might change on the outside but it s results, you can t change that, Solskjaer said. It s the nature of football. Sometimes, you ve got the margins on your side.
I think the decision we made to send the young players to Astana made sure the players who stayed here were more ready because it was a hard week.
Results are always the proof in the end, but we ve always believed in what we re doing it. It s going to be ups and downs, but we re on the right track. I see these boys every day in training, the attitude and skills they have got, so I m not that worried.
United have already qualified for the knockout phase and need only a point to guarantee top spot in the group, but Solskjaer insisted he wants to beat AZ.
Of course I m bothered [about the result], he added. I m not going to send the boys out and say, I don t care if you win or lose .
Every game you play for Man United is a chance to prove yourself and to me and the supporters that you deserve to be part of the team for a long time.
