Manchester United are heading to the Republic of Ireland for a training camp.
Next week Michael Carrick and his coaching staff will take the players to a training camp in the Republic of Ireland next week. It will be held between April 4-8.
United are in the midst of a 24-day fixture gap, with the international break extended by FA Cup weekend and TV scheduling pushing the next game even further back.
So with United preparing to travel to Ireland for a change of scenery, here are five questions we currently have…
Do you think the four-day training camp in the Republic of Ireland is a good idea?
What should be the focus for the coaching staff?
Michael Carrick coaching the team at Carrington
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
How fit is Lisandro Martinez?
Lisandro Martinez not being fit enough to travel with Argentina on their international break was a worrying red flag over his injury.
Yet it appears that Martinez is making good progress in his recovery from a calf injury that has kept him out since early February.
He is expected to travel, and he will be working towards a return to the United team to face Leeds, with Harry Maguire suspended.
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Michael Carrick will need to decide whether to select Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven, or drop one of them and play Martinez. The Argentine must prove his fitness.
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Will Patrick Dorgu or Matthijs de Ligt travel?
Matthijs de Ligt and Patrick Dorgu are longer term absentees, with worry over whether the Dutch defender will even play again this season.
There is optimism that Dorgu will be back, but we are not necessarily expecting him to return to face Leeds.
Will we get a positive update? And furthermore, will Dorgu and De Ligt even travel?
United may decide they are better off remaining at the Carrington facilities. But we could also argue that they should be with the squad for a change of scenery, building team spirit.
Shea Lacey jogging with head down for Manchester United.
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
What decision will be made over Shea Lacey?
Shea Lacey has returned from injury and he will hope to finally get a chance to play his first game under Michael Carrick soon.
Whether he travels or not will be a big indication on whether Carrick believes he can play a part between now and the end of the season.
Another factor is that United’s under-21s face Real Madrid at Old Trafford on the Tuesday night. Lacey could be involved.
This fixture will limit the number of young players United decide to bring over on the camp.
Can the non-international players get a headstart?
Several of Manchester United’s players have been away on international duty; Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Casemiro, to name a few. It will be interesting to see whether they operate with the same training plan as everybody else.
Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo pulled out of the internationals, but we expect them to be training as normal ahead of United’s next fixture.
The players of particular interest are those who were on the fringes of the team, and were left behind by their countries.
Mason Mount and Joshua Zirkzee are fresh, and are playing for their futures. Can they make a big enough impact to force their way into Carrick’s plans?
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Will there be any behind the scenes games vs local sides?
United will hold an open training session to the media on the second day of the camp, but the rest of the plans remain shrouded in secrecy.
There is an opportunity for United to arrange a behind-closed-doors friendly match with a local Irish team to keep the players fresh.
This would provide an opportunity for players like Mount and Zirkzee to really stand out and state their case, with something more competitive than inter-training sessions.
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