Rashford and Pogba fitness will give Manchester United the edge when season resumes, says assistant Kieran McKenna

Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba have been backed to give Manchester United the edge on their rivals when football resumes.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is set to have a fully-fit squad to choose from when coronavirus lockdown guidelines are eased, with Rashford and Pogba both available after long-term injury.

They will also link up with new singing Bruno Fernandes for the first time, sparking growing confidence within the club that United will be well-placed in their bid to secure Champions League qualification, should the season resume, while they are also into the latter stages of the FA Cup and Europa League.

Rashford is on the verge of recovering from a double stress fracture of the back, while Pogba has recovered from ankle surgery.

United assistant coach Kieran McKenna revealed: “We are hopefully going to have a full squad of players to work with, whenever we come back, in terms of injured boys coming back.

“So you are thinking about how we can reintegrate them, what the squad might look like with them boys back in and how we might look on the pitch.

“Obviously, those two (Rashford and Pogba) are massively talented players who you are talking about and we have not really had them all season.

"Luke [Shaw] and Anthony [Martial] were picking up injuries in the first half of the season, with Scott [McTominay] picking up injuries, all missing most of the season, and obviously Marcus being a big miss as well, so we haven't really had a full complement to pick from all season.

“The rest of the squad deserves credit and Ole for how he has managed that, and for managing to keep the group together.

Manchester United duo Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba are both recovering from injuries Photo: AFP via Getty Images
AFP via Getty Images

“If we can get to a point where we get everybody back in, then it's certainly good competition for places in some positions, and also a chance to rotate, which we haven't always had the possibility to do, to give people a breather and manage the squad that way.”

United were already on a run of 11 games without defeat when the season was suspended. McKenna says it is vital they maintain that momentum.

“Our hope is that it wasn’t a one-off run of good form that comes to an end and we won’t be able to match again,” he told MUTV.

“We’re hoping that we’re putting the right things in place, getting the right people in the door and having the right structures and a good consistent set-up will enable us to be more consistent in the future, because we know that’s what we need to do and where we need to get to.

“We hope to come out of the break in a stronger way, continue some of the things that have been going on, that we feel have contributed to that run of good form and we’ll be hopeful that we can pick it up again whenever we get going.”

McKenna also reiterated United's eagerness to see the season completed once it is safe to do so.

“From a personal point of view, and from speaking to the other staff and players, everyone is keen to play and everyone wants to finish the competitions,” he said.

“For us, we are still in a couple of cup competitions with a good shout, and we are still fighting for things in the league as well, so we would like to get it played and that is what everyone is hoping for.

United assistant Kieran McKenna (R) is eager for the 2019-20 season to be completed Photo: Manchester United via Getty Images
Manchester United via Getty Imag

"But, again, everybody is in the same boat - health is the most important thing, we can't take big risks, we can't take away resources from other parts of the community that need it more.

“We'd like to get it played, we have to be ready, but we also know that football is massively important, but it is not the most important thing in the country, or the world, at this time. We have to take a backseat and be ready.”

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