Whilst the injury to Raphael Varane initially looked to be a disaster for Manchester United and Erik ten Hag, one man might be feeling somewhat optimistic - Red Devils’ captain Harry Maguire.
The England defender has endured a torrid time at Old Trafford this season with his inconsistent form seeing him drop to the United bench, whilst Varane and Lisandro Martinez struck up what looked like a promising partnership.
Maguire’s chances of forcing his way back into contention looked remote having been ruled out for the past month with a hamstring injury. However, with Varane having suffered an injury of his own in the recent 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, the former Leicester City star has the ideal opportunity to step into the breach and repay Ten Hag’s faith in him.
He has recently returned to training and could well replace the stricken Frenchman at the heart of the Red Devils defence, whilst Victor Lindelof could also be an option. Ten Hag has regularly leapt to the defence of his defender even during his run of questionable form.
He said: “First of all, of course I have to coach him [Maguire] and back him, but I back him because I believe in him.
“In the period I worked with him in pre-season he was good, really good in training, and in games I can see the qualities even when he's not in the team. When he's trained, the quality was there. You see his career, his caps for England for Leicester and for Manchester United, he performed really well.
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“He has high potential and then it’s about him. The players, the coaches, the manager, we believe in him and that’s what I told him. I'm sure he can do it and turn it around.”
Red Devils’ icon Jaap Stam has already predicted Maguire to be called upon - even before United were hit with the blow of Varane’s injury.
Speaking last month, the former defender said: "When he [Maguire] gets his minutes, because you’re going to have injuries and suspensions, he needs to use that opportunity to step in and show himself. The other two are doing well and that’s how it goes in football. You need to train hard and stay on your toes.
"If you’re not ready to step in, somebody else will play. That’s how you raise the bar and the level of football."
Of course, nobody would be expecting Maguire to return to the form that convinced United to splurge a then world record fee on his signature to sign him from Leicester City. However, if he can return to any semblance of form, then that will only benefit Maguire and United.
It could also do his chances of a starting berth at the World Cup no harm at all either. There was initially doubt over his place at the tournament due to his injury but with the Englishman now back fit, there is every chance he could be handed a starting berth.
Gareth Southgate though has warned that he needs to be regularly playing on a club level to be in contention for the Three Lions.
Speaking during the last international break, he said: "Why do we pick him [Maguire]? Because he’s one of the players who gives us the best chance of winning.
“So really we should all be wanting a Harry Maguire that’s playing regularly and playing with confidence. That applies to quite a few players but he’s the one everything lands on, which must be a tough space for him."
So whilst United might be left reflecting on a huge injury blow regarding Varane, it is far from a disaster for Maguire himself.
