United skipper Maguire set to miss Europa final after sitting out training
Harry Maguire sat out training on the eve of the Europa League final as faint hopes of the Manchester United captain leading the side out against Villarreal were all but extinguished.
The 28-year-old centreback sustained ankle ligament damage 17 days ago when Aston Villa's Anwar El Ghazi awkwardly landed on him.
Managerolegunnarsolskjaer had initially been upbeat about Maguire returning to skipper the side in tonight's final in Gdansk, only for that positivity to wane last week despite the defender coming off his crutches.
But the centre-back's place in the 26-man squad travelling to Poland provided renewed hope, so too Solskjaer's suggestion he would make a late bid to be involved against Villarreal.
"Harry is just going to jog up and down the sideline, I reckon," the United boss said in his pre-match press conference.
"He'll probably try to join in (training) a little, but apart from that we're looking quite good."
Yet within an hour it was clear that Maguire would be taking no part in yesterday's session.
The defender, who was named in England's provisional 33-man squad for the European Championship earlier in the day, headed to the dugout rather than the pitch as his team-mates started training.
Solskjaer went over to him 15 minutes into the session, before the United boss returned to the main group as a forlorn Maguire watched on.
French forward Anthony
Martial and defender Phil Jones did not travel with the squad to Poland due to injury, with the Norwegian facing some big selection decisions, including whether to start David De Gea or Dean Henderson in goal.
"It's always difficult to leave players out, but it's throughout the whole season," Solskjaer said.
"A final is a reward for what you've done the whole season, then if there's a doubt between a couple it's the form in the latter stages, of course.
"But we'll enjoy the last session and the players will get the team tomorrow."
Meanwhile, Pau Torres is determined to help hometown club Villarreal to a historic Europa League triumph as the defender blocks out speculation linking him to opponents United.
The Yellow Submarine are eyeing the first major trophy intheir98-yearhistorywhen they take on the Old Trafford giants.
Torres has been among the most discussed players in the build-up to the final as the centre-half 's exceptional displays have seen him linked to United, having previously been on Manchester City's radar.
But the 24-year-old Spain international is ignoring such background noise ahead of representing his local team on their biggest night.
"Well, as you will understand, one day before the most important game of my life, I won't think about anything else than what's going to happen tomorrow," Torres said.
"All my work and my teammates' work has been good, and this shows it.
"I've got my contract with Villarreal, which is my town, so I'm very quiet about it, very calm."