Manchester United's players will have no excuses once Paul Pogba returns from injury, says former England international Darren Bent.

Pogba has only played eight games this season, yet has been the main talking point for the English press, who claim the World Cup winner wants out of Old Trafford.

The Frenchman will return for United for the remaining Premier League fixtures, and Bent says United players won't be able to hide behind the criticism of Pogba.

"It's kind of a witch hunt against him now," Bent said on talkSPORT.

"He's had a tough time but I feel like everyone is just taking shots at him without allowing him to come back and try and defend himself.

"We've seen when he's played well, he had that period when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer first got the job, that eight, nine games got him in the PFA Team of the Year because he was that good.

"We've seen how good he was, we've seen what he does for France at the World Cup when he won the World Cup, absolutely fantastic.

"So I think at times people have just got to get off his back, let him come back and play.

"I understand at times maybe other aspects of his life don't help people determine their opinion on Paul Pogba, but on the pitch he is a top, top player but we haven't seen it consistently enough at Manchester United.

"But at least give him a chance to come back from injury, get back in the team and play.

"All it takes is for one person to get on Pogba's back and he's the point of everyone's conversation."