Former Manchester United player Paul Parker has claimed that reports of Harry Maguire only being fit enough for the bench against Nottingham Forest are 'fabricated'.
The Reds captain had only trained once with United ahead of the Forest clash, with the 29-year-old being named as a substitute for the Premier League visit of Steve Cooper's side. He also missed the League Cup win over Burnley through illness.
The Manchester Evening News reported that Maguire was said to have contracted a virus while away with England at the World Cup, but that the centre-back made himself available to be on the bench for the game against the newly-promoted side on Tuesday.
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Raphael Varane started alongside Luke Shaw at the heart of defence in midweek, but ex-Reds man Parker has suggested that he doesn't believe the story about Maguire.
"First of all we have to say that Luke Shaw did very well playing as a centre half," he told BonusCodeBets. "He barely made a mistake and Man United didn’t really miss Harry Maguire.”
"But to be honest, I don’t believe the story about Harry Maguire being ill. It was a lie and it is totally fabricated. It doesn’t make any sense at all.
"On a cold rainy night in Manchester there is no way you would ever let an ill man sit on the bench if he wasn’t ready. He was ready but Erik ten Hag preferred to play with Luke Shaw."
Maguire had been unable to shake off the virus and a source said the 29-year-old "really should be in bed". However, the captain offered to provide cover and was named among the substitutes.
He had struggled for form in a Reds shirt this season and has made just three Premier League starts for Erik ten Hag's side.
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