Manchester United ended their season on a high note with a victory in the FA Cup final. Now, most of the squad is shifting their focus to the upcoming European Championships. However, there are concerns about key player Harry Maguire's participation due to injury.
England is among the favourites for this year’s tournament, with players like Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo representing Manchester United. However, as reported by The Telegraph, there are major doubts surrounding Maguire’s ability to participate due to an ongoing muscle injury.
The centre-back has been struggling with this injury that kept him out of United’s end-of-season games including their triumphant finale at Wembley. Despite following an individual training programme since joining up with the Three Lions squad, it seems increasingly unlikely that he will recover in time for the tournament.
Maguire’s absence leaves big hole in defence
Losing Maguire would be a significant blow to Gareth Southgate who already faces limited quality options for his defence line-up. Despite being regularly ridiculed by supporters over his struggles over past seasons, Maguire's importance to England cannot be understated.
Southgate has until midnight on Friday to make his final decision regarding team selection and undoubtedly; all eyes will be on whether or not Maguire makes it into the squad.
Uncertain future at Manchester United
If he misses out on participating in this prestigious tournament due to injury, he will return back home where questions about his long-term future at Manchester United still linger. After narrowly escaping being sold last summer and producing a decent season under Ten Hag – thanks largely due to injuries among first-choice central defenders – questions remain about whether he has done enough warranting a place moving forward or if they should cash-in given his age and contract status.
Maguire joined Manchester United from Leicester City back in 2019 for £80 million and has since played over 200 times for the club. However, his market value is rapidly decreasing due to his age and contract status.
The upcoming Euro 2024 matches will be a crucial event not just for England but also for Harry Maguire. His participation or lack thereof could have significant implications on his future at Manchester United. As fans eagerly await Southgate's final decision, it's clear that the coming days will be pivotal in shaping Maguire's career trajectory.
