Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has scrapped plans for warm-weather training in the Middle East during the Premier League winter break, with concerns over political tensions in the region.

The Manchester United boss had earmarked the 16-day gap in fixtures for a training camp, with Qatar a potential destination, but he will now work on his players closer to home in Europe.

USA’s national team were meant to train in Doha this month but cancelled amid heightened unrest after Iran's military commander, General Qasem Soleimani, was killed by an airstrike.

“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,” Solskjaer said. “We were looking at Middle East but that is definitely not going to happen.”

United have trained at Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex in Dubai in recent seasons, while the Aspire Academy facilities in Doha are used by some of Europe’s top teams.

Solskjaer, however, will let his players have a period of rest completely away from training then may go away as a squad in Europe. While at Molde he favoured warm-weather friendly matches in Spain.