Gist Coven

Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola said he would like Paul Pogba to play in next week’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford. Guardiola also said he does not believe the France midfielder wants Manchester City players to be struck down by injury. Pogba got a three-match ban for treading on Hector Bellerin during Saturday’s pulsating 3-1 win at Arsenal. He becomes a significant blow for Jose Mourinho with City next on the agenda in the Premier League. City restored their eight-point lead over Mourinho’s men at the summit on Sunday when David Silva’s 83rd-minute volley sealed a 2-1 win over West Ham. Pogba had earlier told the BBC’s Football Focus he hoped Manchester City would “get some very important players injured.” Speaking after the West Ham win, Guardiola said, “Did he say that? Hopefully we don’t have injuries. “I would like it if Paul could play against us because I like to face the teams with the best players possible to see if we are able to beat them. “In the ...

Manchester United midfielder, Paul Pogba, has named his team-mate Romelu Lukaku, as the “best striker in the Premier League”. Lukaku ended his goal drought which lasted seven club games last weekend, as United beat Newcastle 4-1 at Old Trafford. The Belgium international scored in the same game Pogba made his comeback from injury. It was his eighth goal in 12 Premier League games. However, he is only second to Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah in the scoring charts who leads with nine. Alvaro Morata, Sergio Aguero, Gabriel Jesus, Harry Kane and Lukaku all sit joint second with the same tally. “It feels good when you come back and Romelu scores again? I like that, I like that,” Pogba told BBC Sport. “No. We’ve got a lot of good players, a lot of talented players. We have to trust each other. “Romelu is the best striker in the Premier League. We know his quality. We know everything. We don’t worry about him. And at the end, we see the result.”

Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata has embraced the thought of a strike partnership between Romelu Lukaku and Zlatan Ibrahimovic and said that the duo would provide "guaranteed goals". Ibrahimovic returned to action against Newcastle United on Saturday following knee ligament damage that kept him out since April, while Romelu Lukaku scored his first Premier League goal since the end of September. Spaniard Mata has been key for Jose Mourinho's men this season and would be keen to see the two strikers combine. "Can you imagine Zlatan and Lukaku in the team, both scoring goals?," Mata told The Mirror. "It would be a strike force of the highest level and a constant danger against anyone. "There would be guaranteed goals for United in attack. I think other teams will be worried. Having Ibra back is a very big moment. "If he comes back with his usual style then United have a sensational reinforcement for the second half of the season. ...

Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho has revealed that Marcos Rojo, Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are all in contention to face Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday. Speaking exclusively to MUTV at the Aon Training Complex on Friday afternoon, the manager told Helen Evans: “The players that stayed here and [were] recovering from injuries, even the ones that are recovering from big injuries, they are ready to play.” Asked specifically which players with long-term injuries are set to return against the Magpies at Old Trafford, the manager said: “Pogba, Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo.” All three are set to be named in the squad for the weekend clash. Pogba pulled a hamstring during the 3-0 Champions League win over Basel on 12 September. United were unbeaten at that point but surrendered that record when losing 2-1 at Huddersfield a month later. They also lost at Chelsea in the last match before the international break. Mourinho said: “Now I can speak because Paul i...