Why Harry Maguire isn't in Man Utd squad to face Tottenham

Harry Maguire was a notable absentee from the Manchester United matchday squad to face Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

The defender has been one of the Red Devils' more reliable performers over the last couple of seasons, so his omission from Erik ten Hag's squad for the visit of Spurs came as a surprise.

It is being widely reported that Maguire was forced out of Ten Hag's thinking after he picked up a knock during a training session.

Maguire played all 90 minutes of United's disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Twente in their UEFA Europa League opener on Wednesday and has featured seven times in all competitions already this term.

In the absence of Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and summer signing Matthijs de Ligt will be given a chance to strengthen their centre-back partnership.

Meanwhile, Tottenham have arrived at Old Trafford without club captain Son Heung-min, who failed to overcome a muscle problem sustained in Thursday's 3-0 win at home to Qarabag.

Timo Werner, who made his Spurs debut in this fixture last season, has been drafted into the starting XI in the South Korean's place.

Man Utd starting XI (4-2-3-1): Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Ugarte, Mainoo; Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford; Zirkzee

Man Utd substitutes: Bayindir, Lindelof, Evans, Casemiro, Eriksen, Mount, Amad, Antony, Hojlund

Tottenham starting XI (4-3-3): Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bentancur, Maddison, Kulusevski; Johnson, Solanke, Werner

Tottenham substitutes: Forster, Spence, Dragusin, Gray, Bissouma, Bergvall, Sarr, Moore, Lankshear

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