The Community Shield final is fast approaching, and Manchester United’s manager, Erik ten Hag, has confirmed that there are concerns regarding the availability of several defenders for the match against Manchester City on Saturday.
Harry Maguire missed the last pre-season friendly against Liverpool in America, and his condition needs to be assessed before the team travels to Wembley. Victor Lindelöf and Aaron Wan-Bissaka also became doubtful after being substituted early in the game against Liverpool.
Luke Shaw was not part of the squad for the pre-season tour, but he has returned to Carrington this week after an extended summer break. His fitness is still being evaluated.
„Harry Maguire sat out the last game as a precaution, and his availability for Saturday’s final is questionable,“ stated Ten Hag. „We still have training sessions to go, so we need to wait and see if he is in the right physical condition.“
„Victor played, but he is also doubtful, as well as Azza [Wan-Bissaka] and Luke Shaw. We will assess them tomorrow.“
Ten Hag also mentioned that Lisandro Martinez could be available to play in defense, but he did not provide a return date for players who joined the team later due to summer international commitments.
„These decisions are made on an individual basis, as each player has a different background,“ he continued. We have all started the pre-season program, but each player joined at different times, whether it was for conditioning or the American tour.
„We will evaluate each player individually before deciding whether they start, sit on the bench, or do not play at all.“
Unfortunately, Leny Yoro and Rasmus Hojlund, who recently underwent surgery, will not be able to participate in the final after sustaining injuries in the United States. Tyrell Malacia is also still working on regaining fitness after a year-long absence.
Joshua Zirkzee, on the other hand, may have the opportunity to make his debut for the team at Wembley, just three and a half weeks after joining from Bologna.
As the Community Shield final draws near, the uncertainty surrounding the availability of key defenders adds an element of suspense to the highly anticipated match between Manchester United and Manchester City. Fans will have to wait and see which players will be fit to take the field and contribute to their team’s success.
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