Paul Pogba 'keeping busy and keeping healthy' during lockdown as Manchester United star steps up fitness

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is using the coronavirus-enforced lockdown to step up his return to fitness, saying that he is keen to get back playing after an injury ravaged season. United's top scorer in 2018/19 had made only eight appearances this campaign before the Covid-19 outbreak forced the complete shutdown of football in England in mid-March. The Frenchman, 27, is yet to appear for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side in 2020 due to persistent ankle problems, with his last appearance coming in a 4-1 win over Newcastle United on December 26. In an interview with United's website, Pogba said he has been working on his fitness in his home gym in the hope the Premier League will resume in the next few months. "I have a little home gym in my house," Pogba said. "I can do some training, some running, some bike, go outside and do some things with the ball. I am just keeping busy and keeping healthy. "We have got to stay motivated, there is no other choice. It is a period and we don't know until when it will be like this, but I still have goals in my head and one day hopefully this [pandemic] will stop. "And then we have to get back on the pitch, so we have to be ready. "For myself, I have been out for a long time as well, so for me I just want to come back playing football." United were fifth in the Premier League three points off fourth-placed Chelsea as well as having one foot in the quarter-finals of the Europa League thanks to a 5-0 victory over LASK in the last 16 first leg. Assuming that all parties conclude it safe to complete the rest of the 2019/20 campaign, Pogba's return to fitness could help United's ambitions to push on for a top-four finish and a return to the Champions League. As well as training every day, Pogba is also maintaining regular contact with his teammates.