Manchester United got a major fitness boost on Monday when manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer spoke to reporters ahead of the Premier League fixture at Wolverhampton Wanderers. United’s chances of avenging their loss to Wolves two weeks ago received a nice surge when Solskjaer revealed that central defender Victor Lindelof, as well as forwards Romelu Lukaku and Anthony Martial will be good to go tomorrow night.
“Both will be ready for tomorrow, definitely, unless they break down in training today,” Solskjaer confirmed to reporters. Video of the Solskjaer session is below:
Lukaku and Lindelof both missed Saturday’s 2-1 win over Watford, as well international duty the past couple of weeks. Martial scored on the weekend, helping United become the first team to have four double figure scorers in Premier League competition this season.
However, he left the game early due to a knock. Obviously, he’s fine and that was one of the major takeaways from the Solskjaer media session. The other main takeaway- don’t worry about the Paul Pogba leaving for Real Madrid transfer rumors/narrative.
He’s happy at United and looking to stay put; yes in spite of the very public mutual admiration going on between him and Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane, via the media.
“Paul is happy here, he’s playing well. There were talks about the international break and what kind of issues that causes,” Solskjaer said.
“One of the issues is that the players are always available for the press. He answered a general question, about how any player would like to play for Real Madrid. He didn’t talk about himself. He’s happy here.”
“Paul is a very nice and polite man who then answered a general question on any kids who … Zidane is an icon in France, he is a fantastic manager, he used to be a fantastic player – I played against him myself – and he’s just politely answered that question. But Paul’s happy here, he’s going to be a big, big part.”
The Pogba flirtation with Madrid and Zidane could just be agent posturing. Pogba’s representation, Mino Raiola, is one of the best in the business and he’s probably fueling that narrative in order to get more leverage, and thus more money for his client, when his contract comes up.
Manchester United at Wolverhampton Wanderers FYIs
Kick-off: Tuesday April 2, Molineux, 7:45pm
United starting XI Prediction: go to this link
United injury report: go to this link
Form Guide: United WLWWD Wolves LDWLW
Google Result Probability: United win 47% Draw 27% Wolves in 26%
Odds via Coral: United 2.00, Draw 3.30, Wolves 3.90
Prediction: United 2, Wolves 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.