Michael Carrick will take Manchester United’s stars to the Republic of Ireland for an ‘intensive’ training camp ahead of their next match against Leeds.
An early exit from the FA Cup, coupled with the international break, opened up a three-week window between their last match away to Bournemouth and their next one at home to Leeds on April 13.
While United will not play any matches during their three-day trip to Ireland, sources close to the first team have detailed that they will travel to a base around 30 minutes outside of Dublin from April 6 to 9.
Recent months had seen talk of a mid-season friendly in Saudi Arabia shelved and United had been exploring alternative options, with little success until now.
The Ireland camp is viewed as an opportunity to change the scene to keep players engaged, as well as log a period of intense sessions ahead of the run-in to secure Champions League football for next season.
As detailed in this week’s Man United Confidential column, United’s stars are being given extra-time off at the end of the international break.
Man United were considering a mid-season friendly in Saudi Arabia before the idea was shelved
Daily Mail Sport revealed that with United not involved in the FA Cup quarter-finals, players won’t be required to report back until early the following week, returning in time to fly to Ireland.
The small number of non-internationals will continue to train at Carrington until Thursday this week – with academy players called in to make up the numbers – and then have the weekend off.
Carrick and his staff have worked hard to not overwork players since he arrived in place of Ruben Amorim.
But with Champions League qualification still in the balance following Friday’s 2-2 draw at Bournemouth, the feeling now is that it is an opportune moment to galvanise the group away from the confines of Carrington.
