Manchester United team news: Paul Pogba absent from training as Alexis Sanchez returns ahead of Brighton

Pogba has starred for United since the departure of Jose Mourinho

Paul Pogba was absent from Manchester United training at Carrington on Wednesday morning.

The 25-year-old starred in United’s win at Tottenham on Sunday, with his dinked through-ball creating Marcus Rashford’s decisive winner, but the reason for his non-attendance is not yet known.

Alexis Sanchez did however return to full-training ahead of United’s Premier League clash against Brighton next weekend, where Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is looking to stretch his winning start at the helm to seven straight games in all competitions.

Pogba has enjoyed a resurgent spell of form since Solskjaer took over, scoring four goals and assisting five in as many games, and admitted after Sunday’s win that Jose Mourinho’s departure from the club has led to him becoming a lot happier.

“Before the coach arrived I was in the shadows, on the bench, and I accepted that,” Pogba said. “It is a pleasure to play again. That’s normal. Now I am always smiling.

“It’s a pleasure to be reunited with him. I knew him from the academy and the reserves when his nickname was ‘Super Sub’.

“He is doing a really good job. As a player he knew the mentality of this club. He has come back to help us and it is going very well. The season is long so let’s see how it goes.

“I am playing a bit further forward. I have more security behind me, it gives me the freedom to go forward to try to get into the box and support the strikers.”

Former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure also hailed the change in Pogba when speaking on Sky Sports Monday Night Football.

Pogba has returned to form under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Getty) (Getty Images)

“To be honest, I think part of it is he has more belief in his manager and his manager put himself in the situation,” Toure said.

“He’s the boss, he has to push his teammates further. And he has the qualities to do that because I think when you see the World Cup in Russia, it was a big example. You caught some clips of him talking to his teammates in the dressing room. It was amazing. He was looking like a basketball player, trying to give a nice speech.

“He’s the type of player who wants to have that connection with his manager, being trusted by him and telling him to push. Feeling the love. I loved that. That’s good for United and that’s good for the fans because this kind of player always has to shine, they have to show their quality.”