Manchester United players return to training after ‘false positive’ Covid tests

Manchester United players and staff will leave isolation and return to training immediately after further testing revealed no positive cases within the first team group.

Saturday’s pre-season friendly away to Preston North End was cancelled after a small number of players and staff were “suspected” to have tested positive for Covid on Thursday following a round of lateral flow testing.

Subsequent PCR tests have revealed those lateral flow results to be ‘false positives’, however. All those affected have now tested negative and will return to training.

A club statement read: “After further testing yesterday and today we can confirm that there are no positive cases within the first team group.

“Following consultation with the Premier League, they are satisfied that all Covid protocols have been followed correctly and the squad can return to training immediately.”

Despite the round of negative tests, the Preston friendly remains off and there are currently no plans for it to be rearranged.

United do not anticupate any disruption to the rest of their pre-season training schedule or other forthcoming games.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side will next be in action against Everton at Old Trafford on 7 August, having drawn 2-2 with Premier League newcomers Brentford on Wednesday evening.