Pogba, Shaw, Cavani – Manchester United international break injury round-up

The international break often throws a spanner in the works in a number of ways, as club preparations are pushed aside for the respective national aspirations.

But the latest round of qualifiers, in particular, has posed a number of problems for Manchester United.

With two matches remaining in the European section of the qualification stage for the 2022 World Cup, the main talking point from a United standpoint was the omission of Jadon Sancho, Jesse Lingard and Mason Greenwood from Gareth Southgate’s side.

Marcus Rashford was called up but opted not to join the rest of the squad as he chose to focus on the recovery of his pre-season shoulder injury.

Paul Pogba was the first casualty of the international break after pulling up in training striking the ball as part of a shooting drill.

The Frenchman had missed the last two Premier League outings, but featured in the Champions League against Atalanta, through suspension. But he now looks set to be sidelined for up to 10 weeks after suffering a thigh injury with the midfielder already pictured using crutches.

Luke Shaw had initially been included in the England squad to play Albania and San Marino but following a collision with Joao Cancelo left the left-back following protocols.

As the Three Lions host Albania, the Englishman is still undergoing the proceedings with Gareth Southgate saying: “I’ve got to check in with our medical staff for today’s updates, the longer it goes the less likely that is [that he’ll be involved].

“Luke has got very strict guidelines on concussion markers, the first day he didn’t pass the markers so that gets shifted back.

“We’ve got to follow the guidelines on that, we might run out of time, we’ll just see.”

Meanwhile, Edinson Cavani has detailed the extent of the injury that saw him miss out on the latest Uruguay squad.

The 34-year-old opened his account for the season in the 3-0 win over Spurs before limping off late on.

“The issue was like this. Before starting the season, I had discomfort in the tendon,” Cavani explained.

“It made me spend a couple of weeks out until I began to gain some minutes [on the pitch] in my team. I had to go back to the national team, always with a bit of pain, but with the hope that it would disappear.

“It was improving but, after Tottenham, it started coming back.

“They are difficult injuries and I decided to have the treatment so that it does not continue to get worse, and to recover as soon as possible to be fit for my team and the national team.”

Amid the recent criticism of United’s midfield, the news of Scott McTominay’s Scotland exit poses another doubt for United after he left their camp with a throat virus.

There is no timeframe on his time out with the illness but it may cause a headache for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer when he picks his side to face Watford at Vicarage Road on November 20.

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