Solskjaer's Pogba puzzler: How does the Man United boss reintegrate the French star into his midfield just as Fred, Scott McTominay and Bruno Fernandes are starting to click?
* Paul Pogba is expected to return from his ankle injury in the next few weeks
* French midfielder needed surgery and hasn't played for United since December
* Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team aren't doing badly in his absence as they find form
* The United boss now faces a headache as he works out how to reintegrate him
* Fred and Scott McTominay are in form but one of them may have to make way
* And it remains to be seen if Bruno Fernandes can work in tandem with Pogba
Paul Pogba's return from injury appears to be imminent but it's set to present Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with a headache.
The Frenchman hasn't appeared in United colours since Boxing Day when he replaced the injured Scott McTominay at half-time against Newcastle United.
He then went off to have ankle surgery and has been on a steady rehabilitation ever since, with Solskjaer's United finally discovering some rhythm and results in his absence.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer faces a dilemma as Paul Pogba nears his return to full fitness. The French midfielder hasn't played since Boxing Day after undergoing surgery on his ankle
Solskjaer confirmed last Wednesday that Pogba will return to training this week — before the coronavirus put a stop to it — and it's a matter of time before he's available for selection again.
Not only that but, as Sportsmail revealed on Wednesday, Pogba is now prepared to commit his future to United by signing a new and improved contract at Old Trafford.
That won't necessarily go down too well with a large swath of United fans who had been working on the assumption Pogba would be leaving in the summer.
In his absence, Solskjaer seems to have figured out his best midfield, with Fred and Scott McTominay anchoring things and new signing Bruno Fernandes providing spark further forward.
But he could soon face the dilemma of trying to shoehorn Pogba back into his midfield while not upsetting those who have been performing well in recent weeks.
So is there a way of reintegrating Pogba? We take a look at a few of Solskjaer's tactical options.
THE CONVENTIONAL 4-2-3-1
Solskjaer favours the 4-2-3-1 formation more often than not with the shape offering the insurance policy of two deep-lying midfielders to shield the defence plus a trio of attacking options.
In this instance, Pogba would likely have to slot in alongside Scott McTominay in the midfield two, with Fernandes in the No 10 role ahead of them.
Pogba is always going to want to push forward whenever the opportunity presents itself, picking up the ball in the transition and driving forward through the middle.
Bruno Fernandes has made an excellent start to life at United since his January arrival
That would undoubtedly place a burden on McTominay, who could be left alone to protect the back four against quick, counter-attacking opponents if Pogba is too far forward.
The positive aspect is that United could field a very speedy and exciting attack featuring Fernandes flanked by Anthony Martial, Daniel James or Mason Greenwood, with Pogba offering support.
But another negative is that either McTominay or Fred would be squeezed out of the side to make way for Pogba, something that appears incredibly harsh given they've both done well for United of late.
Possible United line-up (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Pogba, McTominay; Lingard, Fernandes, James; Martial
AN ATTACK-MINDED 4-3-3
Solskjaer very rarely goes for the 4-3-3 system as it has the tendency to leave United looking unbalanced, either by playing two more defensive midfield players or two over-attacking ones.
It's often said that Pogba's best position is as the left-sided player in a midfield three but he's not often been deployed there for United so the theory has pretty much been debunked.
He could go there with Fernandes as his counterpoint on the right and either Fred or McTominay doing the defensive donkey work in the middle.
It would be harsh on United's Brazilian midfielder Fred if he lost his place in the side to Pogba
You'd then have a forward three featuring the pace of Martial and James on the flanks and a finisher like Odion Ighalo up top.
But it isn't hard to pick flaws in this system. For one thing, Fernandes is out of his best position, required to drift to the right side as opposed to threading passes from a No 10 role.
Also given that both Pogba and Fernandes will instinctively want to push forward, which one of them takes one for the team by tracking back to help the holding midfielder?
This one seems to be the fastest route to a clash of personalities between Pogba and Fernandes.
Possible United line-up (4-3-3): De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Fernandes, Fred/McTominay, Pogba; James, Ighalo, Martial
On loan forward Odion Ighalo could lead the line if Solskjaer opts for a 4-3-3 formation
A MIDFIELD DIAMOND
We occasionally see this shape from Solskjaer's United, basically a back four with a midfield diamond and then two forwards in a 4-1-2-1-2.
The good news is that this one avoids a diplomatic incident because nobody has to drop out of the side.
You'd have McTominay at the bottom tip of the 'diamond' with Fred on the right and Pogba on the left. Fernandes would then by at the top in support of Martial and James or Martial and Ighalo.
It would be Fred's role predominantly to drop back and assist McTominay in mopping up when the opposition have the ball, while they'd be plenty of options to move the ball out of defence.
Fred and Scott McTominay could work together in tandem in a midfield diamond formation
Harry Maguire is adept at carrying the ball out from the back and he would theoretically look up and have Pogba, McTominay and Fred all available for the pass to get United moving.
It also comes with the advantage of allowing Fernandes to concentrate on what he does best without having to think about tracking back.
The only downside is that it leaves United lacking a bit of width further forward though an overlapping full-back like Luke Shaw or Aaron Wan-Bissaka could compensate.
All things considered, this could well be the easiest option for Solskjaer to go for.
Possible United line-up (4-1-2-1-2): De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; McTominay; Fred, Pogba; Fernandes; James, Martial
SOLSKJAER'S TRUSTY 3-4-2-1
For the bigger games, Solskjaer isn't afraid to send his team out in a 3-4-2-1 system and it often pays dividends, such as in the recent wins over Chelsea and Manchester City.
It offers the stability of three centre halves and plays to the strengths of wing backs Wan-Bissaka on the right and either Luke Shaw or Brandon Williams on the left.
It could also potentially offer Solskjaer another way of getting Pogba and Fernandes on the field at the same time.
If he played Fred and McTominay alongside each other in the holding midfield position, Pogba and Fernandes could be the two in behind the centre forward.
In such an advanced position, both could indulge their instincts to push forward and there wouldn't be any pressure for either of them to track back.
The onus would be on the wide players to get forward and offer another angle of attack and it's certainly worked well in the past - Wan-Bissaka was excellent in the 2-0 win over City.
Potentially, Solskjaer could continue with this set-up in the more important games once Pogba returns and revert to the diamond shape in lesser fixtures.
Possible United line-up (3-4-2-1): De Gea; Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Wan-Bissaka, Fred, McTominay, Williams; Fernandes, Pogba; Martial
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