Solskjaer eyes Marbella training camp

MANCHESTER UNITED are exploring the possibility of holding a warm-weather training camp in Marbella after cancelling plans to train in Qatar. The club have scrapped a trip to Doha next month due to security concerns amid unrest in the Middle East. Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer plans to give his players a week off during the winter break from February 2, but wants to bring them back together for intensive training prior to the season resuming on February 17. The Spanish resort of Marbella has been discussed as an alternative for a training camp, although there are no guarantees it will have warm weather next month.

Liverpool used Marbella Football Centre last May in their build-up to the Champions League final against Tottenham. Solskjaer believes the camp will provide valuable bonding time for his players as well as respite following a run of 18 games in 63 days stretching back to the start of December. The busy schedule resumes after the Premier League’s first ever winter break, as United face three games in a week with two league fixtures against Chelsea and Watford and the first leg of a Europa League knockout tie against Club Bruges in Belgium. Solskjaer hopes to have Bruno

Fernandes in his squad by then as talks continue with Sporting Lisbon over a January move for the £60million-rated Portugal midfielder. United are offering £50m plus £10m in add-ons. Scott McTominay and Paul Pogba are also hoping to be back from injury by the time the squad go away for their training camp. Pogba has undergone surgery in Amsterdam to correct an ankle problem that has hindered him since August, and was back at United’s Carrington training base this week wearing a protective boot. McTominay has missed the last six games after damaging knee ligaments against Newcastle on St Stephen’s Day, but is making progress in his recovery.