Man United begin staggered return to training in preparation for Newcastle trip
Man United begin staggered return to training in preparation for Newcastle trip
Man United squad make staggered return
Ralf Rangnick’s Manchester United squad has begun to make a staggered return to training at the club’s Carrington base as the Premier League programme pushes on during the festive period.
The club issued an announcement via its official website earlier this morning, notifying fans that with the Red Devils’ training complex now open once again amid growing concerns regarding the latest Covid-19 outbreak in the English football tier, the first-team squad would once again begin to be put through its paces.
ℹ️ The latest news on the Reds’ return to training 👇#MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 21, 2021
United is set to pay a visit to hapless Newcastle United at St. James’ Park on the 27th despite the Premier League being hit hard by the latest Covid-19 variant (Omicron) which caused six matches last weekend to be postponed.
The Red Devils have already missed fixtures against both Brentford and Brighton, but the league brass has made the decision to go ahead with the festive programme as best possible regardless of the likelihood that the outbreak in the English football pyramid – and the nation at large – will only get worse during the holiday period.
Red Devils with a chance to climb up to fifth
With their fixture programme left in all sorts after clashes with Thomas Frank’s Bee’s and Graham Potters’ Seagulls postponed, normal service looks set to resume for Manchester United against Newcastle offers the perfect opportunity for Rangnick’s outfit to make a push for fifth at the expense of a foundering West Ham.
David Moyes’ Hammers have been struggling of late after winning just one of their last six in the Premier League in a poor run of form that has seen them surrender fourth to in-form Arsenal and will now have to fight tooth and nail to keep both United and Tottenham at bay.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 05: Ralf Rangnick the interim / caretaker manager / head coach of Manchester United and Diogo Dalot of Manchester United at full time during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on December 5, 2021 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
On that basis alone, Rangnick could be set to pounce on the opportunity given the form that the Red Devils have found in the wake of Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s removal from office at Old Trafford, with United posting a 3-1-0 record in the Premier League in the wake of the Norwegian’s departure.
With Burnley just over the horizon in the aftermath of a possible raid on Tyneside, Manchester United could be on the cusp of pushing Arsenal for top four in a much-welcomed battle between bitter Premier League rivals.
