Gary Neville says Man Utd have 'real problem' ahead of Arsenal clash and FA Cup final
Manchester United have some big games coming up (Pictures: Getty/Sky Sports)
Gary Neville admits Manchester United have a ‘real problem’ ahead of key fixtures against Arsenal and Manchester City as the club sweat over the fitness of Harry Maguire.
Erik ten Hag’s side continue their faltering Premier League campaign against Crystal Palace on Monday night as they battle Chelsea and Newcastle United for the final European spots.
United then face Premier League leaders Arsenal in a crucial game in the title race and are already looking ahead to an FA Cup final against local rivals Man City at the end of the month.
England defender Maguire is an early doubt for the FA Cup final after suffering a muscle injury in training and Neville says his absence would be a ‘real problem’ for Ten Hag.
The under-fire Dutchman has already been without Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof, Lisandro Martinez, Willy Kambwala and Jonny Evans over the past few weeks.
‘I was just picking my phone up there, I think it was at half-time I was looking at some of the notifications I was getting. Harry Maguire has got injured today in training,’ Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast.
‘That’s the one position they can’t afford to get injuries in, he is only fit centre-back at this moment in time, so that would be a real problem for United.
Harry Maguire could miss the FA Cup final (Picture: Getty)
‘United’s season largely depends on the FA Cup. The league form has been so inconsistent. But getting players fit for that FA Cup to try to do something against Man City is their absolute priority.’
Brazilian midfielder Casemiro has partnered Maguire in central defence for the last three games, including United’s dramatic FA Cup semi-final victory over Coventry City.
But after the penalty shootout win, Casemiro revealed Maguire had played at Wembley with an injury.
‘Today I played as a defender,’ Casemiro told TNT Sports. ‘We have six defenders. H [Harry Maguire] was injured.
‘He played injured this game. Since the beginning [of the game] he was injured. He played injured in the last match.
‘I played as a central defender. I don’t know how many injuries we have from different players. I think it can never be an excuse for such a big team with so many players. But it ends up hurting.’
Before turning their attentions to Arsenal and the FA Cup final, United will hope to finish their Premier League campaign on a high, starting at Selhurst Park on Monday.
Palace have secured their Premier League survival with three wins from four games under Roy Hodgson’s replacement Oliver Glasner, beating Liverpool, West Ham and Newcastle United before last weekend’s draw at Fulham.
Glasner may be able to call upon the previously injured Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze against United, while Red Devils captain Bruno Fernandes is another doubt for the visitors due to an unspecified problem.
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