Paul Pogba nets goal for Monaco in friendly defeat to Brentford | OneFootball

Paul Pogba (33) is nearing a return to fitness. This international break was billed as a crucial fortnight for Pogba, who returned to first-team training last week. 

Pogba joined Monaco in the summer, signing a two-year deal. However, it took him several months to get up to speed, having missed two years due to a doping ban. He made only three brief substitute appearances before suffering a calf injury at the start of December.

Eric Dier also features in Monaco defeat

It took until last week for him to return to first-team training. Weeks prior, Sébastien Pocognoli announced that the plan was for Pogba to return to training before the international break, with the idea to bring the Frenchman back into the fold after the international break.

He looks on schedule to return. La Pioche featured in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Monaco’s training ground in La Turbie on Thursday. He opened the scoring in a 2-1 defeat to Premier League side Brentford’s U23 team. Eric Dier, also returning from injury, featured in the fixture.

The Principality club’s first game after the international break will come against Olympique de Marseille. With seven games remaining in Ligue 1, Monaco are sixth, three points off OM in third. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle