That may be it for Paul Pogba’s World Cup hopes

The midfielder is undergoing surgery, and Juventus expects him back in January

Paul Pogba’s hopes of playing at the 2022 World Cup have been dealt a major blow as the France and Juventus midfielder will have to undergo surgery on his troublesome knee injury.

Pogba opted to pursue a conservative course of therapy on his meniscus injury last month, but that plan has not been successful and the France star will now be forced under the knife.

“This morning Pogba trained for the second time, but then stopped, and it was then decided that he undergo surgery,” said Juventus head coach Massimiliano Allegri at a press conference on Monday.

“We will realistically get him back in January.”

When asked if Pogba would be fit in time for the World Cup, Allegri responded: “The World Cup is not my problem, Juventus’ problem is that he comes back in January.”

Pogba has yet to make his second Juventus debut after returning to the club from Manchester United on a free transfer this summer. The 29-year-old picked up the knee injury in a preseason training session.

France will be aiming to retain its World Cup title this winter after winning the 2018 tournament. Pogba scored in a 4-2 final win against Croatia in Moscow.

On the bright side for France, a potential standoff between Pogba and Kylian Mbappé over an alleged witch doctor’s curse may no longer be an issue.

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