Manchester United ditch plans for a training camp in Doha amid fears over players' safety following rising tensions between the US and Iran
* Manchester United hoped to take the first team to Qatar over the winter break
* But the plans have been scrapped amid rising tensions between the US and Iran
* A plane was downed in Tehran last week and there are concerns for player safety
* United will instead pick an alternative venue in Europe during the 16-day break
Manchester United have scrapped plans for a training camp in Doha in next month's winter break over fears for their players' safety in the Middle East.
United were due to train in Qatar but rising tension between Iran and the US — that led to the downing of a passenger plane over Tehran last week — forced the club to abandon that amid security concerns, with the Foreign Office warning of an increased threat in the region.
The US national team also cancelled a training camp in Qatar scheduled for this month.
United will choose an alternative venue in Europe during their 16-day break and give the players time for a short holiday, although the club will not place any restrictions on where they can go.
'We were looking at the Middle East but that's definitely not going to happen,' said manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
'If there is one thing that worries me, it's not on the football pitch. There are other things that will worry me more than football.
'I'm going to give them a few days off. I don't know where they will all scatter around but we will stay in Europe.'
United used the Aspire Academy facilities in Doha under Sir Alex Ferguson, while Solskjaer took his players to the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex in Dubai a year ago.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says there is no chance of United's training camp being held in Qatar. The Manchester United team traveled to Dubai for a warm weather training camp last year. The team will play at another venue in Europe amid fears for players' safety in the Middle East
The Norwegian acknowledged the need for the Premier League's first winter break amid a 'relentless' run of 18 games in 63 days that continues with Wednesday night's FA Cup third-round replay at home to Wolves.
'This mid-season break will be very important for everyone to get some vitamin D and get ready for the last three months,' said Solskjaer, who confirmed that injured midfielders Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay will not be available before United's Premier League game at Chelsea on February 17.
'We have five or six games until then and we are just going to stick at it and hang in there. I know we won't see Scott or Paul before the winter break, but Luke Shaw is not too far away.'
Eric Bailly is also close to playing for the first time since suffering a serious knee injury in pre-season against Tottenham in Shanghai. United will wait to see how the Ivorian defender responds to Tuesday's outing for the reserves but Bailly may make the bench for Sunday's trip to Liverpool.
Ahead of the Wolves replay, Solskjaer was asked if United are in danger of becoming a cup team as they struggle to challenge Liverpool and Manchester City for the title again.
'Supporters and the club alike aren't happy with not challenging for the top position in the league,' he replied.
'That is where we feel we should be and many of today's supporters have lived that period where we won it consistently. It might be that we start with winning a cup and then these players will get that taste. But that is not what we want to be. We want to be challenging for the league and the Champions League.'
With United in talks to sign Sporting Lisbon's £60million-rated midfielder Bruno Fernandes, Solskjaer also brushed off concerns raised by the latest Deloitte Football Money League that their revenues could soon drop below those of Liverpool and City.
'I know we've got the resources,' he said. 'We've got the backing if we need to go into the transfer market. We are still up there, so still in a good place.'
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