Manchester United hope to return to training in May

Assistant coach Kieran McKenna says club have other contingency plans in place

Old Trafford lit up in in tribute to NHS workers across the UK. PA

Manchester United are hoping to return to training in May but have contingency plans if the countrywide lockdown is extended, according to assistant coach Kieran McKenna.

The coronavirus pandemic led to the suspension of the Premier League last month, just as United were starting to gain ground on the top four courtesy of an 11-match unbeaten run.

Each United player has individual and group plans to adhere to during the lockdown, which will be next reviewed by the government on May 7.

United are working on the premise that they might be able to congregate if some restrictions are eased, although McKenna insists they have alternative strategies in place.

"At the moment, we are working towards, touch wood, the lockdown loosening after the next deadline and being able to return to some sort of training," McKenna said on the United app.

"We are working to that schedule at the moment but, if we have to push back again, we have got a plan B and plan C already prepared."

The Premier League has given no firm indication of whether the season will be completed to its conclusion and all manner of speculation has abounded in the weeks since the decision was taken to halt football in this country.

If football does get given the green light to resume soon, McKenna believes finishing the league campaign should be the priority ahead of the FA Cup.

He said: "I think everyone is probably aware that the league has to take precedence in terms of if there was a limited timescale. That is something that has been discussed.

"Obviously the FA Cup is important for the country and important for us as a club as well. The schedule is looking tight towards the end of the season. It seems the European competitions are really keen to start in August as well.

"So that probably tightens the schedule a little bit."