Jose Mourinho believes Paul Pogba is already a leader amongst the younger players at Manchester United.

And the Portuguese says the Frenchman's experience could one day result in him becoming captain of the club.

Michael Carrick has taken on the role after Wayne Rooney departed for Everton, but given Carrick may be entering his final year of football at the age of 36, another leader must emerge at United and Mourinho has backed Pogba to be the man.

"I would say the leader of the young guys,' Mourinho said of Pogba. 'He is probably the oldest of the young guys.

"He's for sure the one with more experience because he's the one that played Champions League final, Euro final, Europa League final.

"He has big experience at such a young age, at the same time he's still the kid that come from the academy - the way he is in the club, the way he is in the group, in the training ground, his relation with the people is still the relation that Marcus Rashford has, Jesse Lingard has, all these kids they have.

"He is still the kid from the academy but with his experience, with his status and with his quality on the pitch, where he is also a key player for us, I think Paul has (the) conditions to be in a couple of years such an important guy in the club, really."