Harry Maguire is ruled OUT of Man United’s FA Cup fifth round clash against Nottingham Forest due to injury… with Erik ten Hag also swweating on the fitness of Bruno Fernandes and Raphael Varane
Harry Maguire has been ruled out of Manchester United’s FA Cup fifth round tie against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.
Erik ten Hag revealed to the club’s media on Tuesday that the 30-year-old defender has joined a growing list of injured players and that he also has doubts about the fitness of Bruno Fernandes and Raphael Varane.
The news will mean another injury blow for Man United after Luke Shaw suffered another leg muscle injury that could rule him out for the rest of the season during United’s 2-1 win against Luton.
While the Dutchman was unwilling to extrapolate on the nature of the injuries, he said: “We have some question marks in our squad. Harry Maguire will not be available. Bruno (Fernandes) has doubts. Raphael Varane also has doubts.
‘We have to look at what we have and then choose a team, with the aim of course (to win). It’s an FA Cup match, so it’s about winning or losing. Black or white. We have to win and that has to be our approach.”
Ten Hag, whose position at the club has come under pressure in recent weeks, hopes that his team can recover from the 2-1 defeat against Fulham on Saturday.
He could look to Jonny Evans, Willy Kambwala and Vitor Lindelof to start in the absence of Maguire and Varane in the center of defence.
United are also currently without Tyrell Malacia, Mason Mount, Lisandro Martinez, Anthony Martial and Rasmus Hojlund.
Despite this, Opta revealed the alarming statistic earlier on Tuesday that United have conceded the most shots of any team in the Premier League so far this season. Opposition teams have had 16 or more shots in a match a total of fourteen times this season.
Claims have also been made that the club’s new minority owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, may not be “completely sold to Ten Hag”, according to the newspaper. Manchester Evening Newsdespite the Dutchman claiming last week that Ratcliffe has confidence in him.
Despite crashing out of the Champions League at the group stage this season and dropping to sixth in the league, United had not lost a game in their last seven games before the defeat to Fulham on Saturday.
An FA Cup victory could be United’s last chance to lay claim to silverware this season and the inability to beat Forest tomorrow night will increase the pressure on Ten Hag.
“We have to show (character). “I know we can be at our best in this moment, where we are in such adversity, and we stick together,” Ten Hag said.
‘I know the fans, together we will be strong. And we will fight that battle to win the game.”
“So when we played the last few games you had a bench and that’s always difficult for a manager to let players down.
‘Because there are players who can start with eleven players. When there are setbacks, such as injuries or loss of form, you need such players.
“They can also regain their positions.”
More to follow…