Manchester United

Jamie Carragher: 'Wayne Rooney can thrive alongside Paul Pogba'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 15 August 2016

Paul Pogba can bring the best out of Wayne Rooney at Manchester United should the Englishman be fielded in a midfield position, according to Jamie Carragher.

Jamie Carragher has backed Wayne Rooney and Paul Pogba to form a "fantastic partnership" at Manchester United in the coming years.

Pogba was signed in a record-breaking deal from Juventus this summer, thought to initially be worth £89m, but is still awaiting his Red Devils debut.

There have been plenty of questions over Rooney's best position at United, meanwhile, with Jose Mourinho making clear that he intends to field his captain in a number 10 role behind the lone striker.

Carragher believes that Rooney can thrive in a deeper position alongside Pogba, however, with the two players being able to complement each other's style of play.

"What I would say is that when Paul Pogba comes into this team, he's a box-to-box player and at times he will empty midfield," he told Sky Sports News. "I think that could be a fantastic partnership going forward for Manchester United, actually switching positions.

"At times Pogba can find himself in the number 10 position with Rooney deeper. Pogba can bomb past and Wayne Rooney can fill in for him in central midfield. So that could be a bonus for Manchester United considering who is coming into the team."

Pogba, banned for the Premier League opener at Bournemouth at the weekend, is expected to be included in United's squad for the visit of Southampton on Friday.