Harry Maguire’s illness brandished as “totally fabricated” by former Man United defender

Harry Maguire was on the bench for Manchester United’s 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Tuesday evening after missing the previous fixture through illness.

Both Casemiro and Luke Shaw had to be used as central defenders in each match as United gained two more clean sheets to their season total.

Maguire, 29, had an impressive World Cup with England following murmurs that he should’ve been left out of the starting XI in Qatar.

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However, Paul Parker believes that the English defender was not placed on the bench against Forest due to any illness and suggests that United’s captain was prepared to start but Erik ten Hag preferred his English teammate Shaw to start in an unfamiliar position.

“First of all we have to say that Luke Shaw did very well playing as a centre half,” the former United defender told BonusCodeBets. “He barely made a mistake and Man United didn’t really miss Harry Maguire.

“But to be honest, I don’t believe the story about Harry Maguire being ill. It was a lie and it is totally fabricated. It doesn’t make any sense at all.

“On a cold rainy night in Manchester, there is no way you would ever let an ill man sit on the bench if he wasn’t ready. He was ready but Erik ten Hag preferred to play with Luke Shaw.”

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Maguire came on in the 77th minute against Forest to help see out the comfortable victory.

However, with both Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane now back with the club following the World Cup, it’s unlikely that Maguire is afforded many minutes in the Premier League unless injury problems strike either of the two mainstays in United’s defence.