Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has overseen Manchester United’s poor start to the season and although a recovery attempt has been made this week, to some success, heavy scrutiny remains on the Norwegian boss.
After winning four out of their opening five Premier League games, United went on a four-game winless run in the Premier League prior to last weekend’s comfortable 3-0 win at Tottenham.
The third game, a 4-2 loss at Leicester, marked the return of captain Harry Maguire, who had previously been taken off injured in a 1-0 loss to Aston Villa in September.
No timeline was placed on Maguire’s return from injury but large sections of the club’s supporters were surprised when he was in the side to face Leicester on October 16.
Now, a report from the Telegraph details how Solskjaer rushed Maguire back from the calf injury, with the 28-year-old being up to 10 days away from being match ready on the day of the game at Leicester.
Read more: Luke Shaw praises outcast Manchester United star after Atalanta draw
SN’s verdict on Maguire’s injury, his start to the season, and Solskjaer’s decision…
Solskjaer’s decision to rush Maguire back from injury will hardly come as a surprise to anyone. He infamously resorted to familiar tricks two years ago when Paul Pogba sustained an ankle injury, which subsequently lead to a three-month spell on the sidelines.
Maguire has looked out of sorts this season, especially considering his stellar performances at this summer’s European Championship. That 4-2 defeat to Leicester was telling. Brendan Rodgers’ side targetted their former star and at least three of their goals came directly from Maguire’s mistakes.
He remains United’s captain and hardly put a foot wrong in the Reds’ run-in last season but big improvements need to be made this season if he is to lead his team-mate’s to a first trophy since 2017.
As per the report from the Telegraph, Maguire is expected to start against Manchester City this weekend and with Raphael Varane out injured, Eric Bailly could play again following his impressive performance against Atalanta.
