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Paul Pogba wants Jose Mourinho to alter Manchester United's formation to allow the France international to play an attacking role on the left side of a midfield three.

Pogba believes his ability to impact matches has been limited by the defensive duties he is expected to perform for the English Premier League club.

Mourinho has been unimpressed with Pogba's contribution to the team since Alexis Sanchez's signing from Arsenal last month.

The Old Trafford manager has not used Pogba for a full 90 minutes since the forward's arrival, substituting the Frenchman in losses at Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United and dropping him for the home win over Huddersfield Town.

Mourinho's position is that an individual with Pogba's physical and technical qualities should be capable of excelling in any midfield role. Pogba's failure to adhere to tactical instruction both in his defensive contribution and when in possession of the ball is understood to have annoyed the Portuguese coach.

Brought back to Old Trafford from Juventus for a then record initial transfer fee of €105million in the summer of 2016, Pogba has missed 15 matches this season through injury or suspension. Pogba damaged the tendon of his left thigh in a September Champions League tie, an injury considered to be the result of private physical training conducted outside the supervision of the club.

(Image: AFP)

On Sunday, Mourinho substituted Pogba immediately after the midfielder failed to challenge for the lateral free kick from which Newcastle scored their winning goal. “I remember clearly without television, just with my memory from the touchline,” said Mourinho post-match. “I remember clearly a Newcastle player jumping and two of my players looking at him and staying on the floor.”

Ahead of the match, Mourinho pointedly responded to arguments - including one from former United captain Wayne Rooney - that Pogba would be best deployed as “box-to-box” midfielder liberated from defensive responsibilities.

“In relation to his best position I had a few laughing over the past week because I heard, I watched, I had a chance to read a few things, Mourinho said. “I'm not English, but I think I understand English enough to understand what you want to say with 'box-to-box'. But with some some comments from important people in football, I got a bit confused. Because for me box-to-box means box-to-box. And means you have to be good in this box, you have to be good in this road, and you have to be good in that box.

(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

“Means that you have to defend well in this box, you must have the physical condition, the desire, the intensity, the stamina to go until the other box. In the other box you have to be good at scoring, creating, heading and so on. And then when your team loses the ball, you have to go to the other box because I think this is the meaning of the 'box-to-box'.

"But this week I got a bit confused when some people say a box-to-box has to play free of defensive duties. That is not box-to-box: That is a box in the box, and stay in that box, and doesn't move from that box. I got a bit confused.

“I think this country produced a lot of amazing box-to-box players, I had the pleasure to coach some of them, but I think nowadays with some pundits, some agents, some family members, I think the concept of the box-to-box is changing a little bit. I think now we are going to a different concept of box-to-box.

“Box-to-box is not my word of course, I heard it for the first time in 2004 when I arrived. For me with my Portuguese and trying just to translate it to the English, I just think midfield players. And, for me, Paul is a midfield player. He is not a left back, he is not a striker. So when people ask what is the best position for Paul to play? Paul is a midfield player.

(Image: AFP)

“Depends on the tactical system the team plays - he can play with two, he can play with one, he can play with three, but he will be always a midfield player. Doesn't matter the tactical system the team plays, for me Pogba is a midfield player.

"Then, with so many opinions – and we are in a world of opinions - people can get a little bit confused, but between me and Paul there are no confusions. He is a midfield player and that's it. And it is difficult to find a midfield player with more potential than Paul has. Because Paul has everything."