ODION IGHALO has been cleared travel to Manchester United’s Europa League clash with Club Brugge.
The Nigerian was blocked from attending the club’s training camp in Marbella over coronavirus fears but has been given the green light to join his new teammates in Belgium for the match on February 20.
Ighalo joined United on Deadline Day from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua on loan until the end of the season.
However, border control had started monitoring people – for a period of two weeks – who were arriving from China.
Ighalo’s observation time runs out on February 16 – four days before United’s European clash and the club have confirmed he will be able to play.
Before departing for Marbella, United were concerned travel restrictions may have tightened while they were in Spain leading to potential issues with Ighalo getting back into the UK.
As a result, Old Trafford chiefs left the 30-year-old in Manchester on a “personal training and fitness programme”.
The Red Devils said: “It is simply a precautionary measure as the situation continues to be monitored.”
BossOle Gunnar Solskjaertold the club website: “Odion will stay in Manchester, because he arrived from China in the last 14 days.
“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 there’s a risk and we dont want to take that.”
Although he has been give the go ahead to travel to Belgium, Ighalo is expected to make his Red Devils debut just three days before in their Premier League clash at Chelsea on February 17.
But by the time that game swings around, it will have been nearly three months since the striker played a competitive game.
His last serious outing was Shenhua’s 3-0 defeat at Guangzhou Evergrande on December 1 so despite his recent solo fitness work, he will likely lack match fitness.
Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford were also left in Manchester as they recover from injury.
But the Red Devils were buoyed by Scott McTominay’s presence in Spain as he nears a return after a recent knee problem.
