Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed another setback for Paul Pogba in his press conference on Tuesday, with the midfielder suffering from an illness.

Paul Pogba initially picked up an ankle injury in late August. He made his comeback against Rochdale in September, facing Arsenal a few days later. Then the problem flared up again.

Since that game, the midfielder hasn’t featured at all for United. We recently covered quotes from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer suggesting Pogba would be back in time for the New Year’s game against Arsenal, but that was before the latest setback.

“Of all things he’s struck down ill now,” Solskjaer said. “He’s been off for two or three days, three days probably, so that’s not beneficial. That’s probably set him back quite a bit.”

Manchester United still have four games before the trip to Arsenal. They face Colchester United in the League Cup tomorrow, followed by Watford on Sunday, Newcastle the following Thursday and Burnley that Saturday.

Still, given it’s just two weeks until the Arsenal game now, you’d think Pogba’s chances of featuring are remote. Solskjaer suggested he doesn’t know how long the 26-year-old will be fit to play even when he is on the pitch again.

“We just need to get him fit and match fit,” Solskjaer continued. “It might be half an hour, 45, 60, 90 — who knows, the first game. We’re working hard to get him back but now he’s ill.”

United are in good form, bar their latest disappointing draw against Everton. They beat AZ Alkmaar 4-0 to conclude the Europa League group stage after consecutive wins over Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City. Pogba’s return will still give them a boost though.