IT'S CLOSER! Hutter lays out Monaco debut plans for Pogba

IT'S CLOSER! Hutter lays out Monaco debut plans for Pogba

AS Monaco coach Adi Hutter says Paul Pogba will make his debut after next week's international break.

The former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder has sat out of football for over 18 months after failing a doping test while a Bianconeri player. An initial four-year ban was cut to nine months and after joining Monaco this past summer, Hutter and ASM management have been working with the Frenchman on building up his strength and conditioning in anticipation for a debut which will is now scheduled for a fortnight's time.

Hutter said on Friday: 0"He's doing better and better with the team. Our goal was to call him up for Sunday's match against Nice, but it's a bit early. Maybe it will be for the next match, against Angers, after the international break.

"I hope he'll be back with the team. He's only doing part of the training sessions yet. As you can imagine, it takes time, but we're getting him closer and closer to his return."

On Pogba's impact around the club, Hutter couldn't be happier.

He continued: "He's already in the dressing room, even if he's not wearing the shirt. He was there with us in the dressing room during the last few games, encouraging us, giving advice to the young players, who appreciate having a player who has won everything with them. He's already giving us a lot of encouragement. I'm thinking of seeing how we can increase his workload, perhaps by giving him 15 or 20 minutes in Angers."