Paul Pogba has all the qualities to be Manchester United captain, says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Pogba was stripped of the club’s vice-captaincy four months ago on Friday after a breakdown in his relationship with Jose Mourinho, Solskjaer’s predecessor

Paul Pogba has praised Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's impact (EPA)

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes Paul Pogba is captaincy material and is open to the idea of giving the midfielder the Manchester United armband in the future.

Pogba was stripped of the club’s vice-captaincy four months ago on Friday after a breakdown in his relationship with Jose Mourinho, Solskjaer’s predecessor.

Pogba had skippered United on 17 occasions and Mourinho offered the vice-captaincy as an olive branch after a summer of tension between the pair.

However, Pogba’s thinly-veiled public criticism of Mourinho’s methods saw the midfielder stripped of the armband and intermittently dropped to the substitutes’ bench.

Pogba has been restored to first-team regular status and rejuvenated since Mourinho’s dismissal last month, scoring five in six games following Solskjaer’s appointment.

Solskjaer worked with the midfielder during his time in charge of United’s reserves and he saw qualities then which would make Pogba a potential club captain.

Pogba was also an influential dressing room presence for France during their triumphant World Cup campaign last summer, with his motivational speeches later published by the French Football Federation on social media.

When asked whether he would ever consider Pogba as a captain, Solskjaer said: “Definitely, yeah, because I know the boy from before and he is a leader. He’s a character, he influences people and you’ve seen the videos from France.

“He cares and he really wants to be successful. He knows he can’t do it by himself, it’s a team game and he’s a character that brings so many good things with him when he’s enjoying himself, I have to say.

“You see the personality. He’d love playing football, he’s a larger-than-life character, that’s just the way he is. When the performances come as well, that marries together as a good leader and you see what it meant to him winning the World Cup in what France broadcast. So for me, yes, he’s captain material.”

Antonio Valencia has remained United’s club captain since Solskjaer’s appointment despite not featuring, while fellow veteran Ashley Young has worn the armband in the Ecuadorian’s absence.

Solskjaer confirmed he had made no change to the captaincy since being appointed but back Young to continue in the vice-captain role for now.

Pogba has been in fine form under Solskjaer (Getty)

“Ashley’s wearing the armband, yes because Antonio’s struggled with fitness as well, in and out,” Soldkjaer said. “But Antonio’s still the club captain, but Ash is wearing the armband when he’s playing.

“I’ve never been a fan of: ‘You’re this and you’re that’. Once in a while it’s to give, say David [de Gea] was captain one of these games [Huddersfield] when Ash didn’t play. So there’s 11 captains out there really, it doesn’t really bother me.

“I was captain for Norway, and quite a few times for United but I still don’t tell my kids I was captain of Man United or Norway, but once in a while you are.”

Pogba, Jesse Lingard and other United players have previously been criticised for their avid use of social media.

“That’s just society now, that’s what they’re used to, the kids now. I’m not, but they are,” Solskjaer said.

“And it’s all positive, it’s all good messages and I don’t have any problem with that whatsoever because that’s Paul, that’s Jesse. We’ve got certain rules obviously, and it’s common sense. It’s common sense.”