BBC pundit Garth Crooks says he would have hooked Paul Pogba at half-time in Manchester United’s win against West Ham at the weekend before his wonder strike in the second half.

The France international had a poor game up until his equaliser, but Crooks acknowledges that while he does have a problem with the midfielder’s performances in general, he can’t take anything away from his goal:

“I felt somewhat compelled to put Paul Pogba in my TOTW on the basis that if I had left him out readers would have said that I have a problem with him. Well, that’s because I do. The France international is irritating beyond belief. For an hour his performance was awful and then, out of nothing, he produces the most wonderful finish. I would have brought him and Greenwood off at half-time – which rather explains why I’m not the manager of Manchester United.”

Crooks pointedly says he only named him in his Team of the Week because he feels that United fans would accuse him of having an agenda otherwise, yet he fully admits to having one in his article. They are very strange remarks from the pundit.

After the game versus the Hammers, Pogba did try to explain his poor form at the start of this season. He feels that his health, and particularly his stamina, were adversely affected by picking up the virus and he has only begun to feel like himself again in recent weeks.