By SIMON PEACH, PA CHIEF FOOTBALL WRITER
PUBLISHED: 01:21 EDT, 10 July 2020 | UPDATED: 04:17 EDT, 10 July 2020
Paul Pogba is focused on winning the FA Cup and Europa League before sorting out his Manchester United future.
The World Cup winner scored his first goal of an injury-ravaged campaign on Thursday, wrapping up a 3-0 Premier League win at embattled Aston Villa.
Pogba is playing with a smile on his face a year on from admitting his openness to a move away from Old Trafford, with the France international willing to extend his deal – as revealed exclusively by Sportsmail.
Pogba is willing to make a dramatic U-turn by opening talks over a new contract at Manchester United. He has less than a year left on his current deal – although United can extend it by a further 12 months.
United have yet to approach Pogba over a new contract but are likely to begin discussions with his representatives at the end of the season.
Sportsmail understands the 27-year-old midfielder is open to committing his future to the club, despite having expressed a desire to leave on several occasions since rejoining United from Juventus in 2016 for a then world record £89million.
He has been encouraged to stay after returning from injury to forge an exciting partnership with Bruno Fernandes in a United side currently unbeaten in 17 games under Solskjaer and playing some of their best football since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
And asked post-match on Thursday if he has had a change of heart about staying at the club, the 27-year-old told Sky Sports: ‘Right now, I’ve been injured for a very long time.
‘I focused on myself to get back and help the team as much as I can.
‘This year we have two goals: to go for the Europa League and the FA Cup. So, we focus on that.’
Pogba’s desire for a successful end to the season was a common theme in his post-match interview.
‘We’re really pleased with ourselves but we know we have to carry on,’ he said.
‘We talk before the game, we talk in training that we have to carry on. That’s what Manchester is.
‘It’s a big club and we want to keep the level up always.
‘This year we have two goals: to go for the Europa League and the FA Cup. So, we focus on that.’
Pogba’s desire for a successful end to the season was a common theme in his post-match interview.
‘We’re really pleased with ourselves but we know we have to carry on,’ he said.
‘We talk before the game, we talk in training that we have to carry on. That’s what Manchester is.
‘It’s a big club and we want to keep the level up always.
‘It’s very good,’ he said of the academy graduate. ‘I enjoy to see them play up front.
‘I enjoy this kid in training and in the game and I will keep pushing him to be at the top.
‘He has so much to do and he can do even more.
‘What he’s doing now is just his talent and he’s showed he can play in this team.’
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