Pogba ‘was like Pied Piper. They all copied him’

As a United U-18 player the French midfielder led by example. Tonight he returns as a world star, writes Paul Hirst

Pogba trains ahead of his likely return to a United shirt tonightMatthew Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images

Not many people are aware of it, but it will probably go down as one of the most bizarre dismissals in the history of English football.

Paul Pogba had played a key role in Manchester United’s run to the quarter-finals of the 2011 FA Youth Cup.

The Frenchman, already 6ft 3in, had been a commanding, cool-headed and goalscoring presence for United in midfield throughout his second season in England and was charged with the responsibility of taking a penalty in front of the Anfield Road stand, which was packed with thousands of Liverpool supporters.

Pogba, one day shy of his…

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