Harry Maguire receives blow as Erik ten Hag admits Luke Shaw was ‘FABULOUS’ as centre-back vs Wolves

The emergence of Luke Shaw as a central defender option for Manchester United has cast further doubt on Harry Maguire’s future at Old Trafford.

Shaw has played at the heart of United’s defense for the first time in the last two games against Wolves and Nottingham Forest, as Erik ten Hag’s side kept clean sheets in both victories.

The United manager paired Shaw with Raphael Varane in the absence of Lisandro Martinez because Maguire and Victor Lindelof were ill, and says the England left-back seized his chance.

Luke Shaw (L) excelling as a central defender option for Man United has cast further doubt on Harry Maguire (R)

Erik ten Hag said Shaw was “fabulous” when he was in central defense in the 1-0 win against Wolves.

Maguire was still fit enough to come on as a late substitute in both games, suggesting that Ten Hag’s decision was also tactical.

Martinez is set to return to the United squad against Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Tuesday night following Argentina’s World Cup triumph, and will be Varane’s first-choice partner.

But when asked if Shaw is now a long-term option to play central defence, Ten Hag replied: ‘Of course. You have your ideas and a plan, but sometimes it changes due to circumstances like Harry and Victor’s illnesses.

“Normally, they start the games we just played, but Casemiro did well at center back (in the Carabao Cup against Burnley) and then Luke Shaw did very well against Nottingham Forest.

Ten Hag said Maguire would normally have played in United’s last two games if he had not suffered from illness.

‘We’ve seen the last two games, it’s been fabulous. He has impressed but of course we also know that he is very good as a left back. He’s an extra option and that’s always good for a team.

“If you look at the game plan and the way we had to approach Wolves, I thought it was the best matchup with Rapha and Luke. We especially knew Wolves’ speed from the right side and we could cover that.”

Maguire faces more competition than ever to regain a place in United’s first team. Varane, Martinez and Lindelof are already ahead of the England defender in the pecking order, with Shaw now looking to be another hurdle for the 29-year-old.

United face a big decision over their captain in the summer, with two years still left on his £190,000-a-week contract.

Given Maguire’s age and salary, United is unlikely to recoup even half of the £80m they paid Leicester City for him in the summer of 2019.

However, with Lisandro Martínez returning from the World Cup with Argentina, Maguire’s opportunities will be even less frequent.

It is unlikely that he will leave Old Trafford in the January transfer window due to a lack of options available and the fact that Ten Hag still needs depth in his team.

But Maguire needs to be more than a squad player at this stage of his career, and former United and England defender Rio Ferdinand thinks he should look to leave.

“They were shocked when you saw Lindelof and Maguire on the bench,” Ferdinand said. Show what Ten Hag thinks of those two guys!

‘If I’m Harry Maguire, I’m looking for a new club right now. It is impeccable for England. At Man United, it hasn’t worked for him.

This new coach is showing him that he is not going to be one of the two best centre-backs. He would be telling my agent to go and find me a new club where I can play regularly and enjoy my football.