When Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over Manchester United in the interim, he lifted the lid and cut off the constraints. It’s resulted in wins, fun to watch football and the team’s most expensive, talented and important player realizing his potential again.
It’s great for United that Paul Pogba seems to be back to his regular self again, and winger Jesse Lingard has taken notice. “He’s enjoying his football,” Lingard said. “He’s playing in the role he likes to play in just inside off the left. He has the freedom to make things happen. He has always got forward in that position and scored goals.”
“Ole has helped him 100 percent. He has given him the confidence and license to be free and play his game and do what we know he can do.
“I can definitely, definitely see the Paul I used to know. I have seen him playing through the ranks and he is back to that player, the player we know.”
Let’s take a look at who Solskjaer may include in his starting XI alongside Pogba for the midweek clash at St. James’ Park.
The Bank MUFC Starting XI Prediction at Newcastle United (4-3-3)
Attack: Anthony Martial, Romelu Lukaku, Marcus Rashford
Midfielders: Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Ander Herrera
Defenders: Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelof, Phil Jones, Ashley Young
Goalkeeper: David de Gea
United at Newcastle FC FYIs
Kick-off: 8:00 pm (BST), 3:00 pm (EST) Wednesday January 2, St. James Park
Google Result Probability: United win- 60%, Draw 23%, Newcastle win- 17%
Odds via odd shark: United win- 61/100, draw- 3/1, Newcastle win- 9/2
Injury report: go to this link
Prediction: United 2, Newcastle 0
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.