Erik ten Hag confirms Harry Maguire has a “little knock” ahead of Premier League opener

Manchester United Erik ten Hag has confirmed that defender Harry Maguire picked up a small problem during the Community Shield defeat on penalties to Manchester City.

The Englishman made his third appearance of pre-season after missing the final tour game of the United States against Liverpool.

United were plagued last season by defensive issues and had to play over 30 different combinations in the defence.

It was hoped this season would be different but new signing Leny Yoro picked up a severe injury in just his second match for the club and Will Fish was also badly hurt against Liverpool in the last game of the tour.

Victor Lindelof was also left out of the Community Shield match as a precaution, meaning Jonny Evans and Maguire started as the centre back pairing with Lisandro Martinez shifted out to the left back position.

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Ten Hag confirmed there had been an injury to yet another defender by claiming Maguire, who was also a doubt for the match yesterday, had suffered a problem and would need to be assessed before next week’s opening Premier League match against Fulham on Friday night.

“I just checked with the doctor, and the doctor was the person I spoke to most last season, and it seems that everyone is [starting to] come good,” Ten Hag told reporters after the Community Shield.

“[There is] a little knock with Harry [Maguire] but we hope he can keep fit and available for next week when we start the season against Fulham.”

This means that currently Evans and Martinez are the only fit centre backs ready and available to play for the club at the moment, and the Argentine has only played one game of pre-season after returning from holiday later due to his run to the Copa America final.

Ineos have certainly realised this problem and they have signed two centre backs this summer.

Yoro was an impressive capture from LOSC Lille and news broke yesterday that United have had a bid accepted by Bayern Munich for another central defender, Matthijs de Ligt.

With a list of Yoro, Martinez, De Ligt, Maguire, Lindelof and Evans, it is likely that at least one of Maguire or Lindelof will be sold and there were reports yesterday that the Swede was attracting interest from Saudi Arabia.

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