Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba may not return to action for the Serie A club until January due to his knee injury which requires surgery, manager Massimiliano Allegri said on Monday, casting doubts over the Frenchman’s World Cup participation.

Last month Pogba decided not to have surgery after he damaged his meniscus in training following his move back to Juve from Manchester United in the close season.

"This morning he trained for the second time but then stopped and it was then decided that he undergo surgery. We will realistically get him back in January," Allegri told reporters before Tuesday's Champions League clash at Paris St Germain.

Allegri was unsure if 29-year-old Pogba would be ready for France’s world title defence at the November 21st-December 18th World Cup in Qatar, adding: “The World Cup is not my problem, Juventus’ problem is that he comes back in January.”

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