Manchester United and England defender Harry Maguire has been ruled out of the FA Cup final against Manchester City on Saturday.
The Three Lions international was due to return from injury in the last few weeks ahead of the match at Wembley and was named in Gareth Southgate’s provisional squad for Euro 2024.
But United head coach Erik ten Hag has delivered bad news for Red Devils and England fans ahead of the match.
He said: “Harry Maguire [is] unavailable. Tomorrow we will make final decisions. It’s just he didn’t heal as expected.”
Maguire has been recovering from a muscle injury he picked up in training earlier in the month and his absence will leave the challengers to City’s crown short in defence once again.
Ten Hag has had to use Casemiro as a centre-back in recent weeks with Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane also absent with issues.
However, both the Argentine and Frenchman are expected to be available for the huge clash in the capital.
🚨 Erik has ruled @HarryMaguire93 out of Saturday’s #FACupFinal.
The boss also provided fitness updates on several other Reds ⤵️#MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 23, 2024
Manchester United’s motive
Should United win, they will secure a place in the Europa League alongside Tottenham.
It would relegate Chelsea – who finished sixth in the Premier League – into the Europa Conference League and knock Newcastle out of Europe entirely.
Maguire’s absence will be a concern for Southgate.
The 53-year-old is a big fan of the former Leicester defender, who has been a mainstay in the England starting XI for years.
But with the Three Lions’ opening Euro 2024 game still three weeks away, Maguire should have enough time to work his way back into contention.
England face Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland on 3 June and 7 June in warm-up matches ahead of the tournament.
The players will be out for revenge after losing to Italy in the final on home soil three years ago.
