Paul Pogba may not return to action until January due to a knee injury which requires surgery, Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri said on Monday, casting doubts over the France midfielder\u2019s availability for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pogba decided to forgo surgery after damaging his meniscus in training following his move back to Juventus from Manchester United this summer, but Allegri said circumstances had changed after he attempted to return to training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis morning he trained for the second time but then stopped and it was then decided that he undergo surgery. We will realistically get him back in January,\u201d Allegri told reporters before Tuesday\u2019s Champions League clash at Paris Saint-Germain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Allegri was unsure if Pogba would be ready for France\u2019s World Cup defence, which begins in November, adding: \u201cThe World Cup is not my problem, Juventus\u2019 problem is that he comes back in January.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pogba was instrumental in France\u2019s World Cup victory in 2018 in Russia, scoring in the final where they beat Croatia 4-2. He has scored 11 goals in 91 appearances for France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Juventus and PSG are in Champions League Group H with Benfica and Maccabi Haifa. Allegri said his side would need at least 10 points to qualify for the knockout stages, adding that PSG are one of the title favourites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe face an opponent who is among the strongest in Europe, who this year I count as a favourite for the final,\u201d Allegri said. \u201cTomorrow will be a good match, and we will certainly aim to play a great game from a technical point of view.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n