Another setback hit Manchester United and England as Harry Maguire had to undergo a scan after being forced off due to injury during the Wembley clash against Brazil. This adds to Manchester United’s ongoing struggle with injuries affecting players in various positions throughout the season.
Maguire now joins the growing list of injured players from the national team, following Manchester City’s Kyle Walker, who also had to leave the field during Saturday’s match.
Concerns rose when Maguire had to exit the game during the second half, prompting a scan the next day. Despite Gareth Southgate’s precautionary substitution of Maguire and Ben Chilwell, the Manchester United player will miss Tuesday’s friendly against Belgium and has returned to his club, mirroring Walker’s situation. Southgate’s squad is grappling with a string of injuries affecting multiple players.
The news will undoubtedly worry Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, especially with crucial upcoming fixtures, beginning with Saturday’s Premier League match against Brentford.
Maguire’s recent outings for both club and country have been marred by his early exits, with his latest lasting only 67 minutes, marking his first start since February 24. His absence further compounds United’s defensive struggles, exacerbated by the unavailability of players like Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez, and Tyrell Malacia. Maguire had just returned from a groin injury that kept him out for five games over the Christmas period.
In addition to Maguire, there are concerns over Walker, who could only manage 20 minutes in the match. Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa replaced him, and Walker underwent a scan, with a suspected hamstring issue.
The 1-0 defeat also highlighted the absence of key players such as Bukayo Saka, Jack Grealish, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, while Harry Kane is receiving treatment at Bayern Munich for an ankle problem after being sidelined for the match.
However, England’s prospects for the upcoming match against Belgium might improve with the potential return of Jordan Henderson and Cole Palmer, both of whom have resumed training since Saturday.
