‘United come first, not England’

ERIK TEN HAG cannot guarantee harry Maguire minutes before the World Cup as he has to put Manchester United’s interests ahead of england.

Gareth southgate announces his squad for Qatar next week and Maguire is certain to be included despite his lack of playing time. The 29-year-old has made four starts and four substitute appearances for United due to a leg injury and loss of form. Maguire was sent on as a makeshift striker for the final eight minutes of Thursday’s europa league win over real sociedad in san sebastian but could not help get the second goal that would have seen United top Group e and go straight into the last 16. United manager Ten hag preferred Victor lindelof as a central defensive partner for lisandro Martinez in spain, and must now decide between lindelof and Maguire for tomorrow’s trip to Aston Villa.

And Ten hag insisted that United have to come first. ‘We have to win as Manchester United, clear,’ he said when asked if he will give Maguire more game time before the World Cup. ‘i hope that we perform well and that the england manager takes as many players as possible from Manchester United.’ lindelof has usurped Maguire in the pecking order, with injured raphael Varane unavailable. Ten hag added: ‘lindelof is performing well in combination with Martinez. sunday he was ill so not available and then came harry and he did well.

‘i have to see for Aston Villa. it’s going to be difficult because we don’t know — it’s a new manager (Unai emery). so i have to have a look and analyse that team and then we have a choice.’