Erik ten Hag has challenged Harry Maguire to raise his performance levels with Manchester United set to be without Raphael Varane until after the World Cup.
Maguire started the season as United's captain and one of their first-choice centre-backs. But after the debacle at Brentford, the England international was dropped, before he picked up an injury that has ruled him out for several weeks.
In his place, Varane and Lisandro Martinez have formed a solid partnership to help Ten Hag kickstart his reign at Old Trafford. But that partnership will now be broken up, after Varane suffered a hamstring injury in the draw at Chelsea last Sunday.
The prognosis is that the Frenchman will not return to fitness until the start of the World Cup, meaning United need to find a new centre-back partnership for the next three weeks. That could see Maguire handed a way back into the team, but Ten Hag has insisted he must prove his worth.
"They are in training, Harry, Donny, Aaron, in team training in preparation for tomorrow's game. After the training, together with medical, I will take the decision. He (Maguire) always has an important role," the Dutchman said.
"He was injured, happy in his own way back and now he has to get back into games. I understand the interest (in Maguire) but we especially look at Man United, we have to get the right results and performances, that's the main objective I have to look at.
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"It's always about performance, about presentation and I think, regarding his qualities, when he's acting like that, no problem, great player and great capabilities to do a job for us."
One man who will certainly keep his place is Martinez, who has impressed since arriving from Ajax in the summer. Ten Hag hailed the Argentine, as well as admitting that Varane will likely not be seen in a United shirt until the end of December.
“Rapha Varane isn't in the squad. He will be out, certainly until the World Cup so he will not play in this block [of games] for Man United. I think so, but the prognosis we have to wait. We have to see how it develops, how the rehab will develop," he added.
"They only have one week and then the World Cup starts. You have to keep the right fitness, the right shape. It is not optimum but that is something the national managers have to deal with.
"We are United. We want to have a good relationship, we fight together. Licha [Martinez] always does this. Every challenge, every duel he gives everything he has. The fans they love it. You need some players in your team that express that."
The Red Devils host Sheriff in the Europa League on Thursday, in their penultimate game of the group stages. Ten Hag's men can secure their passage into the knockout stage if they defeat the Moldovans.
