Goalkeeper Senne Lammens has cut short his post-World Cup holiday to return to pre-season training with Manchester United. Lammens was originally scheduled to report back to the Carrington training facility next Monday after participating in the World Cup with Belgium.
Lammens, 24, was part of the Belgium squad that reached the quarter-finals of the tournament, where they were defeated 2-1 by eventual winners Spain. He served as Belgium's second-choice goalkeeper behind Thibaut Courtois, but was called into action during the quarter-final match after Courtois sustained an injury. Lammens was ultimately credited with spilling a shot that led to Spain's winning goal.
He was pictured arriving at Carrington on Thursday, four days earlier than expected. Lammens was joined by his international teammate, Youri Tielemans, who recently completed a £35 million transfer to Manchester United from Aston Villa.
Sources indicate Lammens was eager to return to club football following the World Cup. He enjoyed a successful debut season at Manchester United after joining from Royal Antwerp for £18.2 million last September. Lammens made his debut in October and became a consistent presence in goal for the remainder of the season, playing a significant role in the team's qualification for the Champions League. He was recognized by fans as the Premier League's transfer of the season in May.
Lammens made his international debut for Belgium in November and his strong performances for Manchester United contributed to his inclusion in the World Cup squad. Manchester United's next pre-season fixture is scheduled for Saturday against Atletico Madrid in Stockholm.