Jesse Lingard pictured training away from Carrington

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Manchester United’s game with Brighton has been postponed and will not take place this afternoon as planned.

That is due to a Covid outbreak which means United would have only had seven players available to take on Graham Potter’s side, as per the Telegraph.

The outbreak has also led to Manchester United’s Carrington training ground being closed.

United’s players still need to keep their fitness up but it is not exactly training as usual, with the squad working individually from home.

Jesse Lingard posted images to Instagram of himself in his home gym and also preparing to do some work on an exercise bike.

There has been talk about Lingard’s future due to his lack of gametime and the fact his contract is expiring in the summer.

He seems like a Ralf Rangnick kind of player and the German did start him in the Champions League draw with Young Boys.

But forcing his way into the side for more serious games is a bigger test, with the likes of Mason Greenwood, Donny van de Beek and youngster Anthony Elanga brought on as impact subs ahead of him already.

But Lingard is focused and professional, as underlined the way he hit the ground running at West Ham in early 2021 having hardly played up to that point.

He will be ready if called upon, although it is of course not known whether he is one of the players who has tested positive for Covid.

Earlier this week, Cristiano Ronaldo and Anthony Martial were both pictured working out at home with Carrington closed until further notice.

United’s next game is supposed to be against Newcastle United on 27 December and the club will hope that the outbreak has cleared up by then.

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