Some big names missing.
The Man United senior squad returned to training at Carrington, this morning, for their first training session since their win over Norwich, on December 11.
Manchester United’s Premier League trip to Brentford and their home tie against Brighton were both postponed, last week, after a number of positive Covid-19 cases were reported in the senior squad and among the backroom staff.
The 20-time league champions are set to place Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Monday, December 27, and are hopeful that the tie will go ahead. The Premier League are determined to push ahead with fixtures over the festive period, despite rising Covid cases due to the Omicron strain and other contributing factors.
United beat Norwich at Carrow Road, 10 days ago, but several of the squad reported to the club’s Aon complex for light training on the next day, Sunday. They were PCR tested and several positive cases were confirmed.
There was no full training, then, on Monday and the Tuesday trip to Brentford was nixed. It has been a week now and the senior squad assembled at Carrington this morning for their first proper session in over a week and a half.
Marcus Rashford, Victor Lindelof and Edinson Cavani look on during a Manchester United training session ahead of the UEFA Europa League Final in May 2021. (Photo by Lukasz Laskowski/PressFocus/MB Media/Getty Images)Only 18 senior Man United players at full training
United interim boss Ralf Rangnick will still be uncertain as to how his starting XI for Newcastle will look as several players are only filtering back.
Among the players, as reported by Manchester Evening News, not present at training today include, Cristiano Ronaldo, Donny van de Beek, Paul Pogba, Diogo Dalot, Jadon Sancho, Phil Jones, and goalkeepers Tom Heaton, and Dean Henderson.
Mason Greenwood, Luke Shaw and Jesse Lingard were at the training complex but reportedly left after only 10 minutes. The 18 senior United players that were at full training are, as follows:
- David De Gea (GK)
- Lee Grant (GK)
- Harry Maguire (D)
- Raphael Varane (D)
- Eric Bailly (D)
- Aaron Wan-Bissaka (D)
- Alex Telles (D)
- Victor Lindelof (D)
- Scott McTominay (M)
- Fred (M)
- Nemanja Matic (M)
- Amad Diallo (M)
- Juan Mata (M)
- Charlie Savage (M)
- Bruno Fernandes (M)
- Anthony Martial (F)
- Edinson Cavani (F)
- Marcus Rashford (F)
Man United could still field a strong starting XI with the players listed [above] and fill the bench with academy players.
With the Premier League seeking to get through the festive period with as little disruption as possible, it is not yet clear with United’s games against Brentford and Brighton will be rescheduled for.
It was confirmed, on Monday, that the FA Cup third and fourth rounds would have no replays, with ties settled on the day, in an effort to ease possible congestion.
