Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said Paul Pogba is unlikely to feature again until December as the midfielder struggles to overcome an ankle injury.
The France international has not featured in a United shirt since the 1-1 Premier League draw against Arsenal on September 30, missing the club's last five games.
"I don't think we'll see Paul before December. He'll be out for a while," said Solskjaer after his team's 3-1 win at Norwich City on Sunday.
"He needs time to fully recover. I don't think he'll be back, maybe for Sheffield United after the international break, but probably it will be December before we can see him.
"I'm not a doctor but there is an injury there that needs healing. It's his ankle."
Solskjaer's assessment would seem to rule Pogba out of United's next four fixtures at least, with the match against Sheffield United slated for November 24 before a Europa League tie away to Astana in Kazakhstan four days later.
Pogba has spent some of his time on the sidelines in Dubai, posting a videos online earlier this month of a trip to Bluewaters Island as well as training on an exercise bike on a rooftop.
The United manager is already without several first-team regulars, including Luke Shaw, Eric Bailly, Diogo Dalot and Nemanja Matic, although forward Anthony Martial made a scoring return against Norwich on his first Premier League start since August.
The win lifted United, who are next in League Cup action against Chelsea on Wednesday, up to seventh in the table.
Sunday's win at Norwich ended an eight-month wait for an away win in the league for Solskjaer, with Scott McTominay, Marcus Rashford and Martial on target in an entertaining game at Carrow Road that saw home goalkeeper Tim Krul save two penalties - one each from Rashford and Martial.
"It's been too long but it's great to have it done," Solskjaer said of ending United's away-day hoodoo. "But of course the performance was the pleasing thing."
The performance of Martial, who scored United's winner away to Partizan in the Europa League last Thursday, left the Norwegian encouraged that the French striker can have a big impact on United's season, providing he can stay fully fit.
"It was a great finish by Anthony," Solskjaer said. "He's vital for us. He's a top striker, and to have him back fit, smiling and enjoying his football is a big thing for us. He's clever in his movement and one thing he's not given credit for is his defending."
McTominay punished sloppy home defending to bag United's 2,000th Premier League goal midway through the first half and the visitors never looked back.
Rashford doubled United's lead when he finished off a counter-attack and Martial got on the scoresheet in the 73rd minute, curling the ball past Krul after exchanging passes with Rashford.
Norwich substitute Onel Hernandez became the first Cuban to score in the Premier League with a late consolation.
But manager Daniel Farke is sweating on the fitness of keeper Krul, who ended the match limping down the tunnel after damaging his problem knee.
Neither manager was impressed by the two delays caused by VAR interventions.
The first penalty award raised eyebrows after United winger Daniel James and Canaries defender Ben Godfrey collided chasing the ball.
Farke said: "Quite obviously it was a mistake. It took two minutes to overrule and it was quite obvious that the foul was on my centre-back.
"We are all human beings but when you want to overrule the referee then you must be 100 per cent sure he's made a mistake."