Thursday 18 August 2016 23:44, UK
Jose Mourinho says Paul Pogba is ready to play a part in Manchester United's game against Southampton, live on Friday Night Football.
The United boss says Pogba, who was suspended for United's opening weekend win over Bournemouth due to a ban carried over from his time with Juventus, is available to play "some minutes".
However, Mourinho did not confirm whether Pogba will start the game at Old Trafford.
Speaking at his press conference ahead of Friday's game, Mourinho suggested the 23-year-old midfielder is in suitable condition to play some role against Southampton, despite having an extended holiday due to his involvement in France's route to the Euro 2016 final.
"We played with some players against Leicester with less training than Paul," Mourinho added.
"We had guys coming back from the Euros, who were on holidays, had one week of training and they played against Leicester (in the Community Shield), not at the top of their game, not ready for 90 minutes.
"But they played and performed and it was a good way for them to accelerate that process. In this moment they are in the building-up process of their form.
"Paul has been training for more than a week, around 10, 11 days, adaptation is really easy because he is a boy from here, he knows the club, he knows everybody. There's no need for time to adapt.
"He needs time to build his condition and his understanding in the way the team tries to play. Yes, he's ready to play. Ninety minutes? I don't believe.
"Super performance? I don't believe. But in condition to accelerate his process of integration in the team, that's for sure."
Mourinho has also called on supporters to back the new-look United from the start on Friday night, saying: "Everything starts there: the relationship between the team and the fans.
"If a couple of thousand away supporters can be more noisy than 70,000, then we are in trouble. This would mean that there is no connection between the team and the supporters. If there is connection, then I think the factor of being really strong at home has to back.
"Everything starts on the connection between the team and the fans. The way the team plays, the way they behave, the mental approach and, if the fans play [their part], there will be no chance for the opponent."
