Manchester United BLOCK Victor Lindelof from joining up with Sweden for their trip to Denmark

Manchester United have blocked Victor Lindelof from travelling to Denmark with the Swedish national team amid strict Covid quarantine rules and a mutation of the virus being spread by minks.

The international break has begun following the weekend’s Premier League fixtures, with top stars heading around the world to join up with their countries, but United have put a stop to Sweden defender Lindelof heading to Denmark.

The news, confirmed by the Swedish FA, comes after the UK imposed strict travel restrictions on Denmark amid a worrying outbreak of the virus in the north of the country.

Victor Lindelof (right) is not being allowed to travel to Denmark with the Sweden national team

Lindelof will instead have to stay in England, and then meet up with his team in Stockholm

Denmark this week imposed strict measures after warning that a mutation of the virus – which is less sensitive to an attack from Covid-19 antibodies – had jumped from minks to humans and infected 12 people.

Coronavirus has spread from minks to humans in hundreds of cases – but the mutant strain is restricted to just 12 infections. Scientists fear this small number could the beginning of ‘a new pandemic starting again, this time from Denmark.’

Lindelof – and four other Sweden internationals based in England and Scotland – will instead have to stay in England for the coming days, before travelling to Stockholm to meet up with their team-mates after the Denmark game.

In a statement, the Swedish FA said: ‘Sweden’s five national team players from England and Scotland will not be available in the international training match against Denmark due to quarantine rules. Instead, the players will join the national team gathering in Stockholm after the match against Denmark.

The news comes as the UK impose strict quarantine rules on Denmark after a Covid outbreak

Denmark first learned a strain of coronavirus had crossed over from mink in June after an outbreak at a care home, but now 12 people have been infected and a mink cull is underway

‘The five players affected are Robin Olsen, Emil Krafth, Filip Helander, Victor Lindelof and Ken Sema. Due to the United Kingdom’s quarantine rules against Denmark, the quintet will not be released by their clubs to take part in the international match against Denmark.

‘If the players need to be quarantined for more than five days after the national team gathering, there is no requirement for the clubs to release the players. In this case, our players will not be released for the match against Denmark.

‘However, the clubs release the players for the other two matches, against Croatia and France, says national team manager Stefan Pettersson. Substitutes will be called in for the international match against Denmark.’

A quarantine exemption has been allowed for elite sportspeople, but that will not be in place for those travelling to Denmark.

Everton goalkeeper Robin Olsen is another England-based Sweden player affected by the rules

Cluster 5 has been found in 11 people in North Jutland (top) and one person in Zealand (island). Denmark has ordered seven areas in Jutland into lockdown and the UK have cracked down

Therefore, despite Sweden also being taken off the UK’s travel corridor exemption list, Lindelof and his team-mates will not need to quarantine on their return to the UK.

Worryingly, though, Sweden – as well as Spain, the USA, Italy and Holland – have also reported Covid cases in minks, according to the World Health Organisation.

Denmark has already ordered a cull of its 17 million mink.

This has led to immediate concerns for Liverpool’s game away at Danish side FC Midtjylland in the Champions League, too.

It is understood that Jurgen Klopp’s side would be offered no exemption from quarantine rules should they have to travel for their game in Denmark.

Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool also face wait to discover if they can travel to Denmark next month