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LONDON. — Patrick Vieira has urged French compatriot Paul Pogba to play his own game as he bids to live up to his world-record £89million fee. The 23-year-old midfielder has been hailed as the “new Vieira” after his impressive form for Juventus and France in recent years.

He shone on his return for Manchester United in their 2-0 win over on Southampton on Friday night after his block-busting switch from Juve, with new United boss Jose Mourinho claiming Pogba can be as big a star as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Former Arsenal legend Vieira knows what it takes to succeed in the English Premier League after winning it three times.

And he says it is vital Pogba focuses on himself rather than trying to live up to the goal-scoring exploits of Messi and Ronaldo.

“I’m a massive fan of Pogba,” said Vieira, now managing New York City FC in Major League Soccer.

“I think he’s a fantastic player, no doubt about it, but at the same time I believe the Premier League is different, and there will be a lot of pressure on his shoulders because of the price tag and expectation.

“He will have to find the right balance because if he thinks he will win games by himself that will be a massive mistake for him. If he tries to do something that he can’t do that will be a massive mistake as well.

“I read something interesting from Mourinho that he will win as much as Messi or Ronaldo.

“If people are expecting him to score 40 goals a season, that will not be the case, but he can make a difference with his physical and technical ability.

“He needs to find the right balance and do what he can best and not try to play as somebody else.”

Pogba had 103 touches back at Old Trafford against Saints, including five interceptions, four shots as well as creating two chances.

It was an impressive first run-out back in United’s colours after previously being on the club’s books as a youngster before going to Italy after a contract dispute.

But Vieira reckons Pogba will still need plenty of guidance from senior team-mates following his return to England. Vieira, who played with United hitman Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Juventus and Inter Milan, is sure the Swede will impart plenty – whether Pogba wants to listen or not.

Vieira added: “There are some good players around, strong characters around him, who can help him to perform at his best.

“Ibrahimovic, the way I know him, will be a really good person to help him to find the way and perform the way he can. He will have no choice any way but to listen to him! He will help him because he’s a fantastic team-mate.”

Vieira also said he sees similarities between Pogba and himself after watching the youngster’s development.

But he smiled: “With the price they pay he has to!”

Meanwhile, Manchester United is “the perfect club” for Pogba, according to his France teammate Antoine Griezmann.

The 23-year-old joined United for a world-record £89million fee earlier this month and performed impressively on his debut against Southampton on Friday night, the Manchester Evening News report.

And Griezmann, who set United fans’ tongues wagging when he tweeted his excitement ahead of Pogba’s Old Trafford bow, backed Pogba to flourish in the Premier League. — The Mirror.