Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is planning to use Paul Pogba in a No.10 role with Bruno Fernandes playing in a deeper position in Manchester United’s midfield, according to reports.
Pogba and Fernandes have not yet played together in a competitive game for United since the Portugal international was signed in a £67.7 million deal from Sporting in the January transfer window.
But with the Premier League campaign halted due to the coronavirus pandemic, Pogba has been given time to recover from his ankle injury and is now on course to play a key role in the remainder of United’s campaign.
Pogba and Fernandes have already had time to familiarise themselves with each other in United’s training sessions since the players returned to Carrington in groups last month.
And according to The Sun, Pogba has been earmarked for the No.10 role behind the striker after he was played in that position during the training match at Old Trafford on Saturday.
The report claims that the French World Cup winner delivered an ‘impressive performance’ and there is now belief at the club that he will play at the tip of a midfield diamond when the season resumes.
Fernandes, who made an instant impact following his move to Old Trafford, is set to play further back in a No.8 role with Scott McTominay as the holding midfielder.
The Portugal international gave United’s midfield a huge boost following his arrival with three goals and four assists in nine appearances, while he was also named the Premier League’s Player of the Month for February.
Fernandes showed that he was capable of playing in a variety of positions during his time at Sporting and is already comfortable with playing in the No.8 role.
Solskjaer, meanwhile, has already faced calls to play Pogba in a more advanced position after struggling to find consistency in a deeper role in United’s midfield.
United are due to resume their Premier League campaign against Tottenham on June 19.
Solskjaer’s side currently sit fifth in the Premier League, three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea and eight behind Leicester City who sit in third.
Meanwhile, United’s preparations for the Premier League restart were dented on Tuesday after their training game against Stoke City at Carrington was cancelled.
Stoke City’s manager Michael O’Neill has tested positive for coronavirus and the Championship club left Carrington shortly after alerting United to the news.
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