Paul Pogba's return delayed again? French midfielder hit with another injury blow as long wait for Monaco debut continues

Pogba’s highly anticipated debut for Monaco may be put on hold after the midfielder suffered a fresh injury in training, according to Nice-Matin. The France international was expected to make his return to competitive action against Angers on October 18, but a minor muscle strain in his right thigh has now compromised his involvement. The club has confirmed the setback but specified that the issue is not related to the knee problems that have plagued him in the past.

This latest blow is another frustrating chapter in Pogba's long road back to professional football. The World Cup winner has not played a competitive match since September 2023, having served an 18-month doping suspension before signing for the Ligue 1 club at the end of June 2025. His return was initially pencilled in for last week’s derby against Nice before being pushed back to the Angers fixture to allow for more recovery time, a precaution that has been justified by this new muscular problem.

Adding another layer of complexity to his comeback, Pogba will not play under the manager who brought him to the club. Adi Hutter, who signed the Frenchman, was sacked by Monaco earlier this week. This means that whenever Pogba is finally fit to make his debut, it will be under a new head coach, who is yet to be appointed.

With the planned return against Angers now in serious doubt, there is no new timeline for Pogba's debut. The club's medical staff are monitoring the thigh strain closely, and a decision on his availability will be made in due course. For now, the former Manchester United star’s long wait for a return to the pitch continues, with both player and club hoping this is only a minor delay on his path to redemption.