Coronavirus rules ground United’s Ighalo

ODION IGHALO did not join the rest of the Manchester United squad on a warm-weather training camp in the south of Spain to the club’s concerns over border regulations relating to the spread of coronavirus.

The Nigerian striker, 30, who joined United on transfer deadline day from Chinese Super League side Shanghai Greenland Shenhua, stayed in Manchester to work on a personal training and fitness programme.

United were wary of a potential change in rules which could see border restrictions tighten on travellers who have been in China – where the virus originated – within the past 14 days, and did not want to risk complications on return from Spain this week.

“Odion stayed in Manchester, because he arrived from China in the last 14 days,” said manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

”Because of the situation in China, we’re not sure if he’d be allowed back into England if he leaves the country again, so he’s stayed back working with a personal coach, individual programme.

“Of course he would have liked to have gone with the players and got to know them, but the risk, we did not want to take that.”

Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford remained absent but United were boosted by the returns of midfielder Scott McTominay and defender Axel Tuanzebe.

“Scotty has done better in his recovery than we thought, so we decided to take him with us,” Solskjaer said.

“Hopefully he can join in the training sessions and Axel as well, so that’s two positives and it’s a good chance for them to use this time with the players.”

United’s next game is at Chelsea on Tuesday Feb 18 (4am Malaysian time), before travelling to Belgium to take on Club Brugge in the first leg of their Europa League round-of-32 tie. – The Independent