Paul Pogba is expected to miss this year's World Cup in Qatar after Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri confirmed he won't play for the club again until January.
Pogba, 29, sustained a knee injury in pre-season and has undergone surgery to fix the problem. It was initially hoped the France international would return to fitness this month, but the extent of the damage was realised on Monday following a training session.
The midfielder helped France win the World Cup in Russia four years ago, scoring in the 4-2 victory against Croatia in the final. He was also part of the squad that won the Nations League last October and reached the final of Euro 2016, losing 1-0 to Portugal in Paris.
Pogba re-signed for Juventus in July after his Manchester United contract expired. The four-time Serie A winner is yet make his competitive comeback for the Turin club due to his knee complaint and it could be a while before he plays again.
"We will realistically get him [Pogba] back in January," admitted Allegri ahead of Juventus' Champions League opener against Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday night. Benfica and Maccabi Haifa are the other two teams in Group H.
Allegri added: "This morning, Pogba trained for the second time but then stopped, and it was then decided that he undergo surgery. The World Cup is not my problem, Juventus’s problem is that he comes back in January."
Do you think Paul Pogba will be fit in time for the World Cup? Let us know in the comments below!
Juventus have confirmed Pogba underwent surgery - a selective external arthroscopic meniscectomy - after training on Monday and it was "a complete success". According to the NHS' website, recovery for that surgery can take between one week and several months.
There's a chance Pogba will be fit in time for the World Cup, but it's highly unlikely he'll be match fit. France manager Didier Deschamps is yet to comment on Pogba's injury.
Deschamps is expected to name his World Cup squad at the end of October, with the deadline for submissions on November 13. The competition starts on November 20, with France's first game against Australia taking place two days later.
Pogba said during the 2018 World Cup: "It might be my last World Cup... I'm realistic, we don't know if I'll be called up, maybe other players will be better than me. I hope I'll play more. I've already had the chance to play two, some can only dream to play one."
Pogba will be 33 when the next World Cup is staged in the USA, Canada and Mexico. He already has 91 senior caps for France after making his debut nine years ago. He's scored 11 senior goals for his country, but just one of those have come since the last World Cup.
Pogba made a name for himself at the World Cup in Brazil eight years ago by helping France reach the quarter-finals, where they lost 1-0 to eventual winners Germany. The midfielder was named as the Young Player of the Tournament for his efforts.
