Paul Pogba's Juventus woes highlight Manchester United's biggest improvement

Juventus' problems this season cannot be simply boiled down to the signing of Paul Pogba.

But perhaps his struggles mirror where the Serie A giants are this year. Pogba has hardly featured since returning to Turin from Manchester United in the summer.

Massimo Allegri's side are seventh in the standings, outside the European places, having been deducted 15 points for financial irregularities and false accounting. Now, instead of battling for the Champions League places, the Turin club are attempting to make the Europa Conference League qualifiers.

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When Juve announced the return of today's birthday boy back in July, the signs were there that his arrival was based more on historical achievements rather than current form. The announcement statement spoke of the performances in 2015 that lured Manchester United in and his starring role at the 2018 World Cup.

Yet Pogba is not the force of old. He made just 20 Premier League appearances in an injury-riddled campaign last term that ended abruptly at Anfield. Since returning to Italy, the midfielder has played just twice due to injury and now faces further time on the sidelines. The latest injury looks set to keep him out for a month and reports are suggesting Juventus may look to pull the plug on Pogba's deal.

Meanwhile, over at Old Trafford, Pogba's former employers are showing signs of being competitive at home and abroad and Erik ten Hag is beginning to shape a coherent transfer policy having ousted Ronaldo earlier in the season.

United have been guilty of going for the household name in recent times but now things are different. Signings like Lisandro Martinez and Antony have shown where Ten Hag's focus lies. There have