Manchester United has officially announced that center-back Harry Maguire is set to miss the remainder of the Premier League season due to a muscle injury sustained during training.
This injury exacerbates an already significant concern for manager Erik ten Hag, who has been grappling with a shortage of center-back options in recent weeks. With Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof, Jonny Evans, and Willy Kambwala all sidelined due to various injuries, Maguire was the sole natural choice for the position.
Unfortunately for United, Maguire’s injury requires a three-week recovery period, effectively ruling him out for the rest of the Premier League campaign. While there are hopes for his availability for England’s European Championship campaign this summer, his participation in the FA Cup final against Manchester City on May 25 remains uncertain, as it falls just 20 days after the injury was disclosed.
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In the immediate term, Ten Hag faces a significant dilemma as he may be devoid of any senior center-back options for Monday’s clash against Crystal Palace. Although Jonny Evans has returned to training, his fitness level for substantial game time remains uncertain. Additionally, there have been no updates on the fitness statuses of Martinez, Varane, Lindelof, or Kambwala.
To address the shortage, Casemiro has temporarily filled in the backline in recent matches. However, Ten Hag may need to explore alternative solutions, potentially involving creative positional adjustments.
Eighteen-year-old Louis Jackson, a natural center-back, recently earned a place on the bench against Burnley, making him a viable option for promotion if needed against Palace.