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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Alex Richards

Odion Ighalo to miss Man Utd training camp in Spain due to Coronavirus rules

Manchester United new boy Odion Ighalo has been left out of the club's Spanish training camp in Marbella with the club wary about potential changes which could see border restrictions tighten.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed that the deadline Day signing from Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua will not travel to Spain.

After discussions over the potential risks involved with taking the new arrival abroad, United chiefs have decided that the former Watford star should stay behind.

United are wary over border regulations relating to the potential spread of the Coronavirus, and the potential for rules changes which could see border restrictions tighten on travellers who have been in China within the last 14 days.

As such, they are unwilling to risk potential complications when they return from Spain next week.

Instead, Ighalo, 30, will remain in Manchester to work on a personal training programme, as he looks to step up his fitness ahead of a potential Premier League debut against Chelsea on February 17.

Ighalo will stay behind (Internet Unknown)

“Odion will stay in Manchester, because he arrived from China in the last 14 days,“ said Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

”Because of the situation in China, we're not sure if he'd be allowed back into England if he leaves the country again, so he's staying here working with a personal coach, individual programme and his family then can settle in England as well. That's a plus.

“Of course he might have liked to have come with the players and got to know them, but the risk [of potential border restrictions tightening], we don’t want to take that."

Three other players - Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford and Lee Grant - have not travelled either.

However, United have been handed a boost, with Scott McTominay and Axel Tuanzebe both included in the travelling party. Neither has played since December.

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