Manchester United are able to welcome back Harry Maguire to their squad for today’s visit of Aston Villa to ease Erik ten Hag’s injury headache at the back.
Maguire missed Thursday’s 2-2 draw at Tottenham as Luke Shaw once again partnered Victor Lindelof in the middle of the United defence. Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane remain out. And it’s that centre-back pairing who start again against Villa with Tyrell Malacia coming in at left back and Diogo Dalot swapping to the right.
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Alejandro Garnacho has returned to training after seven weeks out with an ankle injury but he’s not fit enough for the matchday squad yet.
"Yes [he is closer to being back]," said Ten Hag.
“He will return tomorrow [Friday] in the team training part and then we have to see when he can return totally in the team training and then back into games.”
Ten Hag has also brought Marcel Sabitzer into the midfield against Villa, with Bruno Fernandes stepping onto the right flank and Antony dropping to the bench.
Fernandes played 90 minutes against Spurs despite fears about his fitness – with Ten Hag revealing he played through the pain barrier – and should keep his spot against Unai Emery’s side.
Ten Hag was criticised for substituting Christian Eriksen and Jadon Sancho in north London despite both men playing well and they’re both retained in the starting XI.
Confirmed Man Utd XI (4-3-3): De Gea; Dalot, Lindelof, Shaw, Malacia; Casemiro, Eriksen, Sabitzer; Fernandes, Rashford, Sancho.
