Pogba warned by World Cup winner Leboeuf to expect bench duty with France

Paul Pogba has been warned by Frank Leboeuf that his inconsistency for Manchester United and France is set to see him benched at World Cup 2018.

A man who helped Les Bleus to conquer the world on home soil back in 1998 knows what is required to compete and prosper on the grandest of sporting stages.

Leboeuf fears Pogba is falling short at present, with a difficult domestic campaign having seen him face regular rounds of criticism which are now being replicated in the international arena.

The 25-year-old does still have one more outing in which to stake his case to Didier Deschamps, with France set to face the U.S. national team on Saturday, but it may be that he is left out of that contest as a sign of things to come.

Former France international defender Leboeuf told ESPN FC on Pogba’s current position: "He's under lots of pressure and he's been heavily criticised.

"I don't think he's going to start against the United States on Saturday and I'm not sure he's going to start in the World Cup. [Corentin] Tolisso is above him on the left side. I think [Blaise] Matuidi is above him.

"I mean [he] has the talent, but we don't see it for the national team for the past two or three years. Pogba talks about winning the Ballon d'Or and put himself in the situation where right now he cannot [back up] what he says.

"I think he's a good guy and I think he has the talent, but he puts too much pressure on himself saying he wants to be the Ballon d'Or, that he was the key of the national team, that he wants to be the No. 1. Just don't say anything, just work hard.

"You can [say] the words if you show on the pitch that you are the best, but otherwise just be quiet and work hard. We don't like that in France. [If you] talk you have to produce."

Pogba was whistled by his own supporters during France’s last outing, as he put in another largely forgettable display during a 3-1 victory over Italy.

He does still have plenty of backers, with Laurent Blanc considering him to be a technically superior player to the legendary Patrick Vieira, but the clock is ticking on him fulfilling his potential.

If Pogba is to start in Russia this summer, then his campaign will open in a meeting with Australia on June 16.