Ralf Rangnick delivers positive Covid-19 update ahead of Newcastle clash

Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick has confirmed that all of the players who were missing because of positive Covid-19 tests and enforced isolation are now available ahead of Monday’s Premier League clash with Newcastle.

United have seen their last two Premier League games postponed as a result of the outbreak, while the club’s training ground was closed for four days for a deep clean.

Now, ahead of facing Newcastle at St James’ Park on the day after Boxing Day, United’s only missing player is Paul Pogba, who continues to recover from the thigh injury he suffered in November.

Everyone else who was having to isolate – at one stage United were down to just 11 players at training – is currently now available.

“Yes, as you know, we had last week, the last training session on Thursday, on that day we had eight outfield players and three goalkeepers and then we closed down the training ground for four days in order to break the chain,” Rangnick said on Thursday, via ManUtd.com.

“Today was the third day of training this week, we started on Tuesday, we trained yesterday and today. Today we had 25 outfield players. Paul Pogba is the only one missing, everyone else was on board. The development in the last week was extremely positive.”

As a result of the postponement of games against Brentford and Brighton, United haven’t played since facing Norwich on 11 December.

Rangnick has overseen successive Premier League wins since taking over from caretaker boss Michael Carrick earlier this month.

Those results have seen United climb back up the table to challenge for a place in the top four. They will be expected to add Newcastle to that list of wins, while they will not face any of last season’s top five until March, providing an invaluable opportunity to build some real momentum.

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