JOSE MOURINHO has insisted that Newcastle United’s successful taming of Paul Pogba last week was achieved despite the fact the French midfielder was playing in his preferred position.

There have been numerous reports in the aftermath of the Magpies’ victory over Manchester United last weekend of a deteriorating relationship between the former Juventus star and his Old Trafford boss.

Mourinho has denied such suggestions, fuelled by claims in France that Pogba is unhappy with the position he is being played – including against Newcastle when he was unable to control things in the middle.

The criticism and scrutiny from pundits has clearly got under the Manchester United manager's skin because he asked reporters in the room: "I would like them to tell me which position Pogba played in against Newcastle?”

Mourinho then clarified that the player’s preferred formation is 4-3-3 and as an "eight on the left", which he insists he played in at St James’ Park.

Newcastle – who have been credited with making an offer for Galatasaray winger Garry Rodrigues last month - claimed a big victory over the Red Devils in the battle to stay in the Premier League, and they frustrated Mourinho’s men throughout.

And the Manchester United boss went on to insist talk of a feud with his £89m midfielder are “lies”.

"He had a big injury in the season," Mourinho said. "He almost went to surgery like (Ousmane) Dembele in Barcelona went with a very similar injury. The decision was not to do it and go to a conservative treatment, which resulted very, very well. Everybody really happy with the way things went.

"He was playing phenomenal before that, he played phenomenal after that. He had a red card against Arsenal probably in his best match of the season, in his best moment and probably in the team's best moment. He was out for a long, long time and in this moment, he is not playing well. Period.

"And the team needs him at a good level and when he is not a good level the team is not as good as when he plays phenomenal.

"I think it happens with every team when the best players, the most crucial players for some reason are not performing. Period.

"You don't need to come with 'we are going to sell him', 'we want to sell him', 'he wants to leave', 'we fight every day', 'we don't see each other'. You don't need that, and some people go in that direction.

"Some of them I know them for many, many years, I know the profile. I know their surname is liar. There are people in your world that their surname is liar and that's not nice.”

Mourinho confirmed Pogba will start at Huddersfield in an intense press conference previewing Saturday's FA Cup fifth-round clash.

Newcastle have a free weekend because of their exit in the FA Cup. Rafa Benitez, credited with an interest in Bologna’s Italian striker Mattia Destro, is focusing on gearing his team up for a return to Premier League action at Bournemouth next Saturday.