Ole Gunnar Solskjaer backs Harry Maguire to ‘bounce back’ from early season troubles for Man United and England… but says his captain may not be fit for Saturday’s trip to Newcastle
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has backed Harry Maguire to ‘bounce back’ from his England nightmare – but the Manchester United captain could miss Saturday’s trip to Newcastle through injury.
The 27-year-old defender endured a tough start to the campaign after his well-documented Greek court case and truncated pre-season.
Maguire has struggled for United and days after helping England to victory against Belgium was sent off for picking up two bookings across 31 wretched minutes of Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to Denmark.
Harry Maguire looks dismayed after being shown a red card during England’s loss to Denmark
Little has gone right for Manchester United’s captain during the early part of the season
Solskjaer said: ‘When Harry is part of the England team that beats number-one ranked Belgium, that’s just a normal day and then you get the headlines when you get the sending-off. That’s just football for you.
‘There’s so many ups and downs that we have got to deal with it, individually and as a group.
‘Harry’s got great resilience. I know he’ll bounce back. I’ll know that he wants to play, he wants to just work his way out of the last couple of games that he’s been criticised (for).
‘He picked up a knock against (Denmark) just before he came off, so I’m just hopeful he’ll be fit. We’ve had a look at him yesterday and give him a test again today.’
Maguire is not the only one under the spotlight given United head to Newcastle looking to react to the 6-1 shellacking at home to Tottenham before the international break.
‘It’s one of those things that you have to get over as soon as you can and move on,’ Solskjaer said.
‘We know any little chance from outside… you want to create a division.
‘I think Bruno (Fernandes) spoke really well the other day about how we are united, we have to stay together. We can’t listen to everyone outside. We’ve got to just get on with it.
‘Bruno’s now lost two league games since he came to the club and he came in February, but it’s been two in quick succession.
‘So, he’s not used to losing league games for us but now, Bruno, welcome to Man United – this is what happens when you lost a couple, they’re going to try to create a division between us.
‘But that’s not going to happen because this group is a group that wants to work hard together, stick together.’
