Topics: Premier League, Manchester United, Burnley, Paul Pogba, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Fans were left to ponder on the Frenchman's omission following his cameo in successive games against Watford and Newcastle.

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has come clean on his decision to drop Paul Pogba ahead of Saturday's trip to Burnley. The French midfielder was not seen among the traveling squad despite featuring in the 4-1 thrashing of Newcastle on Boxing Day.

Against the Magpies, Pogba came off the bench to replace the injured Scott McTominay at half-time having featured as a sustitute in the Red Devils' previous 2-0 defeat at Watford. In both fixtures, the 26-year-old showed glimpses of his class and fans who were eager to see him in action once more were left puzzled with his omission from the squad at Turf Moor.

Ahead of the clash, Solskjaer revealed that the decision to rest Pogba was deliberate as his side did not want to take any risks with the World Cup winner who recently return from a lengthy spell on the treatment table.

"Paul has played in two games now and he's been out for a while, so we didn't feel it was right for him to participate today," he told MUTV.

Also Manchester United was without Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the right-back position while Luke Shaw and Mason Greenwood who were both in the starting lineup against Newcastle were amiss. Ashley Young, Brandon Williams and Daniel James came in for the trio respectively.