Manchester United players have been training for the Community Shield amid a defensive crisis. The Red Devils will face their cross-city rivals, Manchester City, in the season opener this Saturday at Wembley Stadium.Erik ten Hag faces a dilemma with three key players missing from training. The Dutch manager might need to manage without defenders Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Maguire missed United's final pre-season match against Liverpool, and the absence of these players has raised doubts about their availability, with Ten Hag acknowledging uncertainty about their fitness.
He stated, "Harry Maguire sat out the game as a precaution and remains uncertain for Saturday. We still have training sessions ahead, and we'll determine if he's fit enough to be available. Victor played, but he's also questionable, as is Azza [Aaron Wan-Bissaka]. We'll need to assess them tomorrow.he Ten Hag also mentioned that Luke Shaw will be evaluated, as the full-back missed the club's US tour. The England international, who played in the Euros in Spain, returned to Carrington last week.
Lisandro Martinez might make an appearance for the Red Devils, but Ten Hag was cautious about some players' participation. He commented, "It's evaluated on an individual basis, as each player has a different background."
Off-season programs were provided for all players, but their pre-season and USA tour starts varied. "We'll assess each player individually to decide whether they start, come off the bench, or don't play."
Tyrell Malacia, Rasmus Hojlund, and summer signing Leny Yoro will definitely be absent due to long-term injuries and will miss the start of the Premier League season.Wan-Bissaka might miss the game if negotiations between Manchester United and West Ham United progress. Joshua Zirkzee, seen in his first training session with the club, could play a significant role in Hojlund's absence. The forward appeared enthusiastic as he joined his new teammates. Ten Hag emphasized that the team fielded will still be competitive, stating, "We'll field a competitive team to win the trophy, but we won't take unnecessary risks. We'll evaluate each player to determine if they start, are on the bench, or don't play."
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