The reason why Eric Bailly was missing against Brighton

Manchester United defender Eric Bailly was absent from the club’s 2-1 Premier League win over Brighton on Sunday night as he tested positive for coronavirus while in international service with Ivory Coast and has yet to return to the UK.

Bailly was part of the Ivory Coast squad for the recent qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations against Niger and Ethiopia, playing 66 minutes of the former and remaining on the bench for the latter.

Eric Bailly has not yet returned to the UK since the international break ANP Sport / Getty Images

But the 26-year-old was absent from a Premier League match-day squad for the first time since early February when the team sheet was handed in for Brighton’s visit to Old Trafford.

Follow the comeback win that saw goals from the second half from Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær explained that Bailly had tested positive for coronavirus.

“Unfortunately, he will not be with us for a while. He has been away with the Ivory Coast and he tested positive with COVID and he is not back in the country yet, Solskjaer tells journalists.

It is not clear when Bailly will be able to return and being ruled out of action is the latest setback for a player whose future at United is already in doubt approaching the summer.

Bailly will not be able to claim a starting place with Man Utd during his forced absence | Alex Livesey – Danehouse / Getty Images

Bailly’s aggressive defensive style made him an early favorite among United fans when he first arrived from Villarreal in 2016, but his injury record since the first season has made it impossible for the Ivorian to establish himself as a regular starter, despite his skill being very strong.

Bailly’s absence now will exclude him from putting pressure on Victor Lindelof or setting his own demand for a starting place at least in the short term, while United will be looking for a new midfielder in the summer, with Jules Kounde and Pau Torres the top goals. .

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