Harry Maguire injury update as Man Utd star breaks silence on latest setback

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has confirmed he will be unavailable for a few weeks due to the injury he picked up in Sunday’s clash against Aston Villa. The 31-year-old appeared in discomfort after defending a set piece in the 0-0 draw and was helped off the pitch by two members of United staff at half-time.

He was replaced for the second half by Matthijs de Ligt, who partnered with Player of the Match Jonny Evans to secure the visitors’ fourth clean sheet in seven Premier League games.

Maguire has since provided an injury update, confirming he will be out of contention beyond the October international break.

“Frustrated to pick up an injury at the weekend. Will be a few weeks on the sideline for me but I’ll come back stronger,” the former United captain wrote on Instagram.

United have disclosed that Maguire suffered a muscular problem at Villa Park, in what was his third league start of the campaign.

It comes as a blow for Erik ten Hag and Maguire, who was once again pushing to reclaim a regular starting berth after starting the season as a squad option.

De Ligt and Lisandro Martinez have been the Dutchman’s first-choice partnership, with £59million summer signing Leny Yoro waiting in the wings as he recovers from a pre-season foot injury.

But Maguire – brought in alongside Evans for the underperforming De Ligt and Martinez – salvaged a 3-3 draw in last weekend’s Europa League clash at FC Porto with a bullet header in the dying embers.

He would’ve been confident of retaining his spot in defence for Brentford’s visit to Old Trafford on October 19, but he is now a doubt for that clash.

Maguire was excluded from Lee Carsley’s England squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures against Finland and Greece.

That was despite the 64-cap star featuring in the side that beat the Republic of Ireland 2-0 in September.

In reaction to the snub, Maguire admitted he was disappointed and surprised but understood Carsley’s reasoning, given uncertainty about his fitness.

“I was a little bit surprised, I must say. But obviously I back his decision and he’s told me I’m part of the future, so we’ll see what comes in November,” Maguire explained.

“I had a chat with the manager and he spoke about his reasons. He told me I’m a big part of the future, and he just wants to see the other lads playing in this camp.

“He doesn’t want to take me if I’m not going to start either game, which is fair enough. I’ll go away, get some rest. Of course I’m disappointed.

“I want to play every game for England and it’s something that I’ve done throughout the last seven years of my career.

“So I’m disappointed. But I know where he’s coming from and I’ve got to make sure that I perform when I’m on the pitch and give him no option to leave me out.”

Noussair Mazraoui, Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho withdrew from international duty on Monday. However, they are considered precautionary decisions to prioritise rest.