TOMAS IN HEAVEN AT THE HAMMERS

United players pushing each other says Jones

MANCHESTER UNITED’S players have been keeping their competitive edge by trying to beat each other’s best times in fitness drills.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad have all been given individual training programmes to follow during the coronavirus lockdown.

Defender Phil Jones revealed players have been

David McDonnell

swapping their running and cycling times to help each other stay sharp during the enforced break.

“We have a WhatsApp group and we’re doing our day-to-day routines on the bike, or going out for a run,” said Jones, right.

“We’ve all been posting our times in the group to keep everyone involved and engaged. That’s the only way to keep in contact at the moment – via technology. It keeps us together and keeps us talking.

“The Government has stated that we’re allowed one outside activity every day, so I try and get outside and go for a 5k run every day.

“I also have a cycling machine at home so I can top my fitness up on the bike if needed. It’s a difficult time for everyone, but we’re taking precautions, and rightly so.

“I miss football obviously, I miss the lads and being in and around the changing room.

“It’s all I’ve known for the last 15 or so years, so it’s difficult.”

TOMAS SOUCEK says he is in “a paradise” living in east London.

The Czech Republic midfielder, 25, signed for West Ham from Slavia Prague in January on an initial loan with a view to a £20million move.

The deal is set to be activated by West Ham at the end of June – despite the coronavirus pandemic – with Soucek impressing despite only playing four times. His representatives already have an agreement in principle with the club and Soucek, right, says he is delighted with life around the London Stadium.

He said: “I’m glad to be here.

It’s a paradise, from

Darren Lewis

those picking me up at the airport to the team and the people around. “I like historic teams, and that’s West Ham. We went to the ground and the first person to recognise me was a worker who had just got out of the canal. “He was crossing his arms like the two hammers West Ham have in their badge. In the 60,000 capacity of the stadium, there are 55,000 permanent fans.” Boss David Moyes is to press ahead with plans to bring down the average age and ship out bigearning older players, including Pablo Zabaleta.