Pogba A World Cup Doubt For France With Knee Surgery Plan Confirmed
Paul Pogba is a doubt for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar after it was revealed that the midfielder will need surgery to correct a knee problem.
Pogba is yet to feature competitively for Juventus this season following his free summer transfer from Manchester United.
The 29-year-old suffered a knee injury in training shortly after rejoining Massimiliano Allegri's side.
Ahead of Juventus' UEFA Champions League group stage opener against Paris Saint Germain on Tuesday, Allegri revealed that Pogba made a return to training but an inability to complete the session means the Frenchman will have to go under the knife.
"I have to count on having him back in January. Whether he plays the World Cup or not isn't my problem," Allegri said on Monday.
"This morning he trained for the second time, but then stopped, and it was then decided that he will undergo surgery.
"I hope we get him back before the World Cup. But there are [less than three months] to go until it starts.
"The World Cup isn't my problem. Juventus is, which returns in January.
"Pogba had made a conservative choice, we will get him back in January. It will hardly be before November, we need to be realistic."
Italy's Serie A will go on a break a week before the World Cup begins in November and will return in January.
Pogba's first spell at Juventus lasted from 2012-2016 during which he won four Italian Serie A titles and scored 34 goals in 178 appearances.
Pogba was among the scorers when France defeated Croatia 4-1 to win the 2018 showpiece in Russia.
