Ole Gunnar Solskjaer held a press conference ahead of his Manchester United side’s trip to Southampton on Sunday, August 22.
The Red Devils boss offered an update on the futures of Amad Diallo and James Garner, as well as the fitness of Dean Henderson, who has suffered from Covid in recent weeks.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Update on Manchester United Stars
Dean Henderson Back in Light Training
Manchester United and England goalkeeper Dean Henderson has missed pre-season after testing positive for Covid-19. Henderson will have been hoping to start the season as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper, ahead of David de Gea and Tom Heaton. However, his Covid struggles have lasted much longer than the allocated isolation period and he has been missing for United for some time now.
David de Gea started the club’s opening day win over Leeds United and will be intent on keeping his place.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told a press conference: “I think the whole situation around Covid is still unknown and it’s new for everyone, that’s the scary bit, you hear people, less fit people than footballers have it and no symptoms and footballers get side-effects, tiredness, it’s a scary disease and virus. We need to be careful.
“Dean was tired after training, now he feels much better, he’s passed all the tests and he’s training, building himself up again because he’s lost a few weeks, he’s working hard on the grass.”
Manchester Evening News reported this morning that Henderson would likely return next month and had been told before the start of pre-season that he was going to start the campaign as lead goalkeeper.
James Garner to Head Out on Loan
Midfielder James Garner is set to head out on loan for the 2021/22 campaign. The 20-year-old spent the first half of last season on loan at Watford before enjoying a more fruitful spell with Nottingham Forest in the second half of the 2020/21 campaign.
Garner is reported by Daniel Taylor, of The Athletic, to be headed back to the City Ground for another spell with Chris Houghton’s side.
Forest have fought off interest from Stoke City and Wayne Rooney’s Derby County, who reportedly tried everything to sign the England u20 international.
According to Sky Sports’ Rob Dorsett, Manchester United are working to agree on a new contract with Garner before his loan exit.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer all-but-confirmed Garner will be heading out: “I would definitely think Jimmy will go on loan, that’s more or less done, he’s done really well in pre-season and really impressed me.
“For his career, another season or another six months playing regularly will help him.”
Amad Diallo Could Leave on Loan for the Right Club
Amad Diallo has recently returned to Manchester United training having been involved in the Tokyo Olympics, alongside club and country teammate Eric Bailly.
Diallo, who represented Ivory Coast, featured as they reached the quarter-finals, losing to eventual runners-up Spain.
Ivory Coast held their own in the competition, earning draws with tournament winners Brazil and Germany in the group stages.
Diallo assisted in the 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia.
Solskjaer said of his 2020 summer signing who scored a stunning goal v AC Milan in the Europa League last season: “With Amad, I have to say he’s doing really, really well in training. He’s come back a little later after the Olympics and now he’s looking really good.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he stays as well. It has to be the right loan (if he is to go), the club, way of playing, etc.”
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Asked About Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane Latest
Solskjaer was naturally asked if new signings Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane were available for Sunday’s game, he responded: “Well, you’ll see on Sunday. They’ve worked well, they’ve had minutes, we’ve had a very good week ourselves and we’ll see who is making the flight down on Saturday.”
Sancho would be more likely to start having come off the bench v Leeds last Saturday. He also played v Burnley in a behind-closed-doors friendly in midweek. United won that friendly 3-1, with goals from Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard and Fred.
Cavani Back in Training
Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani was back in training this week. He had been granted extra time off by Manchester United.
Solskjaer spoke on Edinson’s return: “Edinson’s always looked after himself and is lacking in team training, football training, he had different reasons to why he came late, there were some personal reasons.
“His body can tolerate a lot, it was something required not physically, a different matter, he’s ready to train, ready to go and let’s see how much we can get out of him.”
Cavani extended his Old Trafford stay by a year at the end of the 2020/21 campaign, with Solskjaer convincing him he needs to experience a full theatre of dreams.
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