MAGUIRE BACK IN THE SWING

HARRY MAGUIRE’S repeated omission by Erik ten Hag may be down to a niggling back injury as well as the manager’s tactical preferences, judging by the defender’s aborted appearance at a Cheshire driving range last week.

The Manchester United captain was at the Beeches golf course in Knutsford in the build-up to last Sunday’s Carabao Cup final, but hit less than half a basket of balls before giving them to a customer in the next bay, with the explanation that he needed to be sensible and look after his back. Maguire’s common-sense approach was rewarded with a cameo appearance against Newcastle before he went on to lift the trophy at Wembley.

He then played the full 90 minutes of United’s FA Cup win over West Ham on Wednesday.