The Red Devils are set to be without their skipper for Champions League and Premier League fixtures, while England must also favour other options
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed that Manchester United are likely to be without club captain Harry Maguire for “a few weeks” as the England international is nursing a calf injury.
The Red Devils skipper was forced out of the 1-0 Premier League defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday just past the hour mark.
Luke Shaw also limped out of that contest, in another untimely fitness blow for Solskjaer, but it is Maguire who appears set to spend the longest spell in the treatment room.
What has been said?
Pressed for a fitness update ahead of United’s Champions League outing against Villarreal on Wednesday, Solskjaer told reporters: “It looks like Harry is definitely out.
“Luke, we might give a chance to but he didn’t train this morning. So maybe the best-case scenario is he will join us on the bench.
“There has to be a reshuffle but that’s why we have a big squad of good players and I’m sure we’ll get a good performance with whoever is selected.”
The United boss added, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka another defensive miss through suspension: “Harry is, more or less, definitely out and it doesn’t look good. It’s Harry’s calf and it might take a few weeks. Let’s see how quickly he recovers.
“Of course, he was hoping to play against Villarreal before but he missed the last game we played against them. That’s football for you.
“With Aaron suspended, we will have to make a few changes.”
Who will Maguire be missing against?
After playing host to Villarreal on Wednesday, in what is a crucial continental clash following a 2-1 defeat to Young Boys on matchday one, United will be back in domestic action on Saturday when welcoming Everton to Old Trafford.
Maguire will play no part in either of those contests as he looks to work his way back to full fitness.
The 28-year-old will also miss out on a place in the latest England squad, with the international break set to present him with a timely opportunity to rest and recuperate.
With the Three Lions already well on their way towards securing qualification for the 2022 World Cup, Gareth Southgate now has the option of shuffling his pack and experimenting with alternative options in key positions.
Maguire will come back into those plans once free of his current ailment, with there a chance that he could figure in a date with Leicester on October 16.
If that game comes too soon, then United will be desperate to have him at the heart of their back four when entertaining Liverpool on October 24.
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