Manchester United have been given a boost as two first-team stars, Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez, have been spotted back at Carrington, with the former said to have resumed full training and the centre-back stepped up his recovery.
The club confirmed that Shaw, who has been out of the Man United squad for three months with a muscle injury, returned to training with the rest of the group on Wednesday.
Erik ten Hag has had to experiment with a number of individuals at left-back in the meantime, with Tyrell Malacia also injured and Sergio Reguilón in and out of the squad with various knocks, leaving right-back Diogo Dalot and midfield signing Sofyan Amrabat to fill in among other makeshift replacements.
The England international’s return will no doubt prove a huge boost to the Dutchman’s backline and general squad depth as the Red Devils have been riddled with injury problems throughout the year, and the return of Martinez to the Carrington Training Complex will no doubt give supporters added hope too.
Luke Shaw is back in training and could be in contention for the United bench this weekend.
Now a World Cup winner with Argentina, the 25-year-old was one of ten Hag’s key signings and quickly became a fan favourite, however, after doing yet more damage to his metatarsal — the same injury that wiped him out for a large chunk of last season — the Reds have once again had to do without him.
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While the former Ajax man isn’t due to return until 2024, his return to Carrington marks a positive step in his individual recovery and, in the case of United fans, could mean they could expect a comeback not long after the Christmas period.
As two of the first names on starting 11 when everyone is fit, Shaw’s imminent return and Martinez’s eventual reintegration could hugely benefit results at Old Trafford and on the road in what has been another up-and-down campaign for the red half of Manchester.
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On the other hand, believe it or not, United are actually the most in-form team in the Premier League at present, with four wins in their last five matches and a very winnable fixture against Everton up next following the end of the international break.
Nevertheless, even having Shaw available for selection again will allow the manager to put players back in the right position and when Martinez does gradually return in the new year, his options and ability to rotate in the Champions League will improve even more.
Man United currently sit sixth in the league, seven points off leaders Man City on 28 and with plenty of teams only a point or two behind them.
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It’s not even Christmas yet, of course, and it’s still a long old season but it’s looking like we might have another gripping title race on our hands.
Luxury Manchester gym Blok confirms permanent closure after weeks of uncertainty
Daisy Jackson
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure, weeks after the doors to the premium fitness facility mysteriously closed.
Around a fortnight ago, members began to arrive to their classes to find the gym on Ducie Street locked up and a forfeiture notice on the door – but at the time, Blok said that it was fighting to reopen.
Sadly, in an email sent to members today, its founder has confirmed that the studio is now permanently closed.
Blok – which has several very successful sites down in London – said that its relationship with its landlord has ‘broken down to a point where trust has been lost’.
The gym wrote that it’s been left with ‘no workable way forward’.
They said: “BLOK Manchester was a space built by our loyal and dedicated community. Whether you joined us for one class or one hundred, we are deeply grateful. You helped create something genuinely special in an incredible city.”
In the immediate future, they said they’ll be supporting the team of fantastic trainers who worked here, as well as looking after members.
Members will be contacted within a few hours with options and refunds owed.
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure. Credit: The Manc Group
CEO and founder Ed Stanbury said: “While this marks the end of a chapter, we don’t see it as the end of our story in Manchester. We’re already speaking with developers about potential future sites and remain committed to returning to the city when the time is right.
“Thank you for being part of our story so far. Let’s shape the future of wellness. The mission continues.”
Commenting on Blok’s Instagram post – its first in almost a fortnight – people have been sharing their sadness at the closure of its Manchester site.
One person wrote: “beautiful space, beautiful staff and beautiful community.”
Another said: “Sending love to all the instructors !! :(((( gutted”
Someone else commented: “THE BEST CLASSES. I’m gutted.”
Manchester City plotting spending spree ‘before’ Club World Cup
Danny Jones
Manchester City are set to embark on somewhat of a spending spree this summer transfer window as the club’s higher-ups are looking to get business done before the 2025 Club World Cup.
With FIFA’s intercontinental club competition set to get underway in mid-June, the Blues don’t have too long to welcome in new players, but Man City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has reiterated their urgency regarding recruitment.
Despite having brought in four new acquisitions in a very short space of time last season, the 50-year-old argued that he wasn’t completely happy with the extent and speed of their business.
Giving a lengthy interview this week, CFG‘s founding chairman has imposed an internal deadline ahead of the lucrative knockout competition.
Speaking with club media, Khaldoon recognised that while there were incomings in January of this year, he believes they “should have been more aggressive in some of the changes we needed to do, adding that he believes it “cost [them].”
“I can tell you today, we have clearly identified who exactly [the targets are], in what positions, and we have our clear number one option, our clear number two option”, he continues.
More importantly, he goes on to add: “We’ll go about our business, and it will be very clear, very swift. Our objective is to try to be ready with the new squad for the Club World Cup.”
He also suggested the flurry of activity this past January was not just atypical of the administration, but felt the squad fell into a crisis state with the number of injuries, insisting they “had to act.”
City have already been linked with a hugely talented and highly-rated European target in the wake of Kevin De Bruyne‘s departure and a lack of strength in depth in midfield.
An initial bid is said to have been received already and will likely be the first of many City summer signings.
He also insisted that the players who joined last season weren’t scattershot, emergency transfers (perhaps barring the resigning of İlkay Gündoğan) but were the start of the rebuild and “gives [fans] an idea of what’s coming this summer.”
Another player linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium is Lyon star Rayan Cherki, who scored in big moments during their Europa League run this year, registering 32 goal contributions across all competitions throughout the 24/25 campaign.
Who would you like to see added to Pep Guardiola’s side this summer, then, Man City fans?
You can watch Khaldoon Al Mubarak’s interview in full down below:
Danny Jones -
23rd November 2023 
