Harry Maguire sends message to ex-Man United teammate after injury blow

Harry Maguire has sent a message to one of his former Manchester United teammates following his latest injury setback.

Maguire, 31, has been one of United’s most consistent performers this term despite the poor overall campaign.

The centre-back has been playing through the pain in recent weeks and also scored in games against Coventry City and Sheffield United.

It seemed like his Old Trafford future was hanging on by a thread at the end of last season after a difficult campaign under Erik ten Hag.

Yet, Maguire has managed to turn things around and now there is a view that he could remain at the club for another season despite a defensive clearout being expected.

Maguire’s injury confirmed

The defender has received a setback in training ahead of Monday’s clash against Crystal Palace, leaving Ten Hag without any fit central defenders going into the Premier League encounter.

“Harry Maguire has sustained a muscle injury that will keep him out for about three weeks,” a club statement confirmed.

Jonny Evans returned to training on Thursday, but it is unknown whether he will be fit enough to start alongside Casemiro against The Eagles. Lisandro Martínez, Victor Lindelöf and Willy Kambwala remain injured.

Maguire’s message to ex-teammate

Despite suffering his setback, Maguire was keen to congratulate his former teammate Axel Tunanzebe, who won promotion to the Premier League with Ipswich Town on the weekend.

The United academy graduate was highly rated during his time at Old Trafford, but constant injuries impacted his career. He has been rejuvenated at Portman Road this season under Kieran McKenna, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s former assistant manager.

Tuanzebe posted on Instagram to celebrate his second promotion campaign from the Championship – his first being on loan from United with Aston Villa – and wrote: “It has been emotional.”

In response, the 26-year-old’s former teammate Maguire commented with two clapping emojis. The England international also praised McKenna on his own Instagram story.

The pair spent several seasons together at Old Trafford before Tuanzebe’s departure, and Maguire rated the young defender extremely highly.

Speaking in 2021, Maguire said: “We have a lot of leaders in the dressing room, a lot of senior pros. And you don’t have to be a senior pro to be a leader. Axel is a leader in the ways that he works and speaks in the dressing room.

“And he’s only a young boy, he’s still learning his trade. I’m sure he’ll go on to have an unbelievable career.”