No Hendo but Reds chew Toffees
COVID KEEPER DEAN IS STILL STRUGGLING
Manchester Utd 4 Everton 0
IAN WHITTELL
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER has no return date for England goalkeeper Dean Henderson nearly a month since he tested positive for Covid.
Solskjaer saw his Manchester United side batter Rafa Benitez’s Everton at Old Trafford in the final warm-up before their Premier League opener against Leeds.
They also missed Jesse Lingard, who went into isolation on the day of the game after his own positive test for the virus. Henderson, who sat out the Euros, is still suffering from the after-effects.
United boss Solskjaer said: “Dean has not felt as energised or sharp as he has done. So he still feels fatigued and the after-effects – you see so many different effects of this virus. He’s still got a few days to rest and then we’ll check up on him.”
The news guarantees David de Gea, who kept a clean sheet against the Toffees, the start against Leeds, but at least Lingard is showing no signs of illness.
Solskjaer said: “Jesse feels OK, hopefully it will stay that way. But when you get that positive test, you’ve just got to isolate.”
Due to the Euros, Solskjaer will only see new signing Jadon Sancho for the first time when he returns to training tomorrow.
And Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane still has not completed a medical and his £34million transfer due to visa delays. Solskjaer added: “The medical with Raphael has to be done, he’s isolating at the moment. We had to wait for visas and unfortunately that took a few more days than expected. ”
United romped to victory against an Everton side without injured Dominic Calvert-Lewin or Richarlison, who was on Olympic duty.
The Reds hit three goals inside the opening half-hour, the first after Jordan Pickford fumbled Lucas Digne’s back header to allow Mason Greenwood to roll the ball into an empty net.
Harry Maguire (above) powered in from Luke Shaw’s corner before Bruno Fernandes scored direct from a 20-yard free-kick. Sub Diogo Dalot’s header completed the rout late on.