Football
Rob Dawson, Correspondent 5y

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: That's the Paul Pogba I know

MANCHESTER, England -- Manchester United caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer praised the performance of Paul Pogba after the midfielder scored twice against Huddersfield.

After creating two goals in Solskjaer's first game against Cardiff, Pogba scored a brace in the 3-1 win on Boxing Day -- his first goals from open play for three months, having fallen out of favour during the final weeks of Jose Mourinho's time in charge.

"That's the Paul I know and I have known since he was in the reserves and youth team," Solskjaer told a news conference. "He's always been a happy boy, big smile on his face and when you score two you're happy and he should be.

"Paul loves playing for this club, he's a Man United boy through and through and he knows what it means to play for Manchester United."

Solskjaer has seen his team take six points from two games since he replaced Mourinho, scoring eight goals by six different scorers. Still, United were indebted to captain David De Gea for making a fantastic full-length save to deny Laurent Depoitre in the second half against Huddersfield and ensure Solskjaer's homecoming at Old Trafford ended with a victory.

"In the first 10 minutes of second half we struggled but for David De Gea's save I think it would have been really, really hard if they got to 1-1 that they deserved," Solskjaer said. "When you get the 2-0 you settle down. It was a fantastic result.

"Some of the football was really, really good as well so you can't ask for more. "I could ask for a clean sheet but it took about 20 minutes for us to settle. You're playing against a team that makes it hard."

Meanwhile, Alexis Sanchez, Romelu Lukaku and Anthony Martial are ready to return for Manchester United.

Sanchez has missed the last month with a hamstring injury, while Lukaku has been absent for the first two games of Solskjaer's reign after being granted compassionate leave. Martial missed the Huddersfield game because of illness but Solskjaer is confident the trio should be available for Bournemouth's visit to Old Trafford on Sunday.

"Alexis is back," said Solskjaer. "He's had two days of good fitness work, hopefully he can join in training with the ball as soon as we get back in.

"He's touch and go for Bournemouth but definitely involved at Newcastle [on Jan. 2]. I've not had time to sit down and speak in detail but, of course, we had a day off on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day he was off but he was in training. He's eager to get back on the pitch, he's a workaholic it seems like."

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