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Pogba pencilled in for Manchester derby

Cape Town - Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is closing on a return to training following a foot injury and could feature against Manchester City on December 7.

The France international was forced to delay recent comeback plans due to ongoing concerns over a foot injury that had already kept him out for two months.

Pogba, who last played for the Red Devils in the 1-1 draw with Arsenal in September, posted an update on his social media on Monday to reveal he has now had a protective cast removed from his foot.

United decided to err on the side of caution, rather than rush him back during a poor period of results which saw Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team sat just two points off the bottom of the Premier League at one stage.

Sunday's comfortable 3-1 victory at home to Brighton now has the Manchester giants more comfortable in seventh position, with Pogba's impending return providing further cause for optimism.

It is understood the World Cup winner will resume first-team training next week and United's conditioners believe it will be a further couple of weeks before the £89 million fulcrum will be firing on all cylinders again.

There is an opportunity for Pogba to return to Dubai this week, as he did last month, to train in the warmer weather, with some of his other United team-mates who are not on international duty.

Talk of a move away from Old Trafford will not go away, although United have continued to assert that Pogba has been a model professional during his time out, giving no reason for concern that the continued links to Real Madrid have impacted his focus.

Solskjaer is also believed to have played a part in trying to keep the former Juventus star upbeat, regularly holding chats with the player to see how he is.

Meanwhile, fellow United midfielder Scott McTominay will have a second scan later today on the ankle he turned late on against the Seagulls.

The Scotland international is likely facing a month out due to damaged ankle ligaments, although United need the swelling to settle to be absolutely certain of its severity.

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