Ighalo grounded by virus fear

ODION IGHALO will not be joining Manchester United at their Marbella training camp over fears he will not be allowed back into the country. The club is worried UK immigration could tighten border restrictions following the continued spread of coronavirus.

Ighalo moved to United on a six-month loan deal from Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua on transfer deadline day, January 31.

Deadly coronvirus originated in Wuhan, China, and has since been upgraded to a global emergency, with strict travel restrictions in place on those travelling to and from China. UK border control are monitoring those who have travelled here from China in the last 14 days — including Ighalo.

United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer revealed the 30-year-old will remain in England and work on his fitness while the squad go to Spain.

He said: ‘ Ighalo will stay in Manchester because since he came from China in the last 14 days and the news of the virus there, we are not sure if he would be allowed back into the UK if he leaves, so he’s staying here working with a fitness coach.’

Ighalo had only j ust started training with Shanghai prior to making his move to United, but has been putting in the hard yards.

United performance coach Wayne Richardson said: ‘ We’ve done endurance work, strength and conditioning, flexibility, mobility.

‘ We’ve been doing sprint tests over five, 10, 15 and 20 metres, isometric pulls and mid-thigh pulls to see where he is.’