Here are the Manchester United evening headlines for Thursday, November 26.
United release statement on return of fans
Manchester United have released a statement accepting the government’s decision to place the area in tier three restrictions and, as a result, delaying the return of fans to Old Trafford further.
Only clubs in areas with tier two and tier one COVID-19 restrictions are able to allow supporters into their stadiums.
A maximum of 2,000 fans can attend games in tier two areas, though United, as things stand, will continue to play behind closed doors.
The statement read: “Manchester United notes the government decision to keep Trafford in the Tier 3 category of COVID-19 restrictions. This means games at Old Trafford will continue to take place behind closed doors until further notice.
“2Our plans for safely welcoming back fans to Old Trafford are well advanced and we look forward to doing so as soon as we are given the go-ahead. We will continue to work with local authorities on finalising our plans so that we can move quickly when our area comes out of Tier 3.
“Some of our forthcoming away games in Tier 2 areas may take place with a limited number of fans in attendance. However, under current guidelines, away fans will not be permitted to attend.
“We thank our fans for their continued patience and will keep them informed of further developments.”
Fosu-Mensah offered new contract
Manchester United have offered Timothy Fosu-Mensah a new deal, the MEN understands.
The defender, who has started only four games in the last three-and-a-half years, is out of contract in the summer.
Clubs are believed to be interested in the 22-year-old, but United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen for the youngster to stay.
A one-year extension was triggered in Fosu-Mensah’s contract last season, but it appears United now want the Dutch international to commit his long-term future to the club.
Charlton boss reveals why United loanee hasn’t been playing
Charlton Athletic manager Lee Bowyer insists Manchester United loanee Dylan Levitt “hasn’t done anything wrong” despite his lack of game time so far this season.
The 20-year-old midfielder has started only three League One games and was absent as Charlton fell to a 4-2 defeat against Burton Albion on Tuesday night.
But Bowyer has revealed Levitt missed the game through illness.
“He was away with us but he was ill and got sent home,” Bowyer said. “He had a bit of a temperature and when someone has that now then they get sent home.
“He had a test and I’m guessing it came back okay, he’s probably just got a cold, but as a club we can’t take any risks to keep him around the lads.
“The plan was to rest Albie [Morgan]. Albie is young and he’s doing great – the penny has been finally dropping with him about what he needs to do to be a regular for us.
“Albie travelled but he was going to be sat on the sidelines and getting ready for Saturday – because he had earned that. Going Saturday-Tuesday is too much for him in terms of starting.
“Dylan was ill on the morning of the game, so it was lucky we had Albie there. Dylan hasn’t done anything wrong. He hasn’t had as many minutes as he’d have liked or we’d have liked him to have, but the middle of the park is probably our strongest area.”
