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Manchester United players and officials are convinced Paul Pogba has played his last game for the club.

Pogba, who has been agitating for a move away since last summer, has not played for United since September 30 because of a foot injury.

United’s club record £89million signing was expected back in action this week, but a mystery illness has further delayed his comeback.

But some of Pogba’s United team-mates and officials within the club now believe he will never pull on a United shirt again, despite boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s insistence he will soon be back in action.

Pogba is understood to still be determined to force his way out of United, ideally next month when the transfer window reopens, with Real Madrid leading the race to sign him.

(Image: EMPICS Sport)

United are adamant they will not allow Pogba to leave in January, with Solskjaer insisting the 26-year-old remains a key part of his plans going forward, despite his prolonged absence.

But there is a growing belief within United that Pogba’s continued absence is a sure-fire indication he is on his way, despite the club’s public stance on their most high-profile player.

Pogba was given permission to attend his brother’s wedding in France a week ago, while he continued his rehabilitation, ahead of his expected comeback against Colchester in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.

But illness put paid to that potential return date, with Solskjaer still unable to confirm when the midfielder will play again for the Reds.

After initially enduring a difficult spell without Pogba, United have thrived without him in recent weeks, with huge Premier League wins over Tottenham and Manchester City , as well as teaching the last 32 of the Europa League as group winners and the Carabao Cup semi-finals.

While United have publicly stated Pogba, who has 18 months left on his current contract, is not for sale, privately there is an acknowledgment of his desire to move on to a new challenge.

Any club wanting to sign Pogba will have to pay in the region of £150m, almost double what United paid Juventus in 2016 to bring him back to Old Trafford.