Ten Hag gives verdict on Manchester United defensive options and issues Harry Maguire injury update

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Erik ten Hag admits he is still unsure how he will solve his defensive dilemma when Manchester United face Aston Villa this weekend.

United will be without Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane for the match and are still unsure whether club captain Harry Maguire will be in contention.

The 30-year-old missed the draw with Tottenham on Thursday night, with Luke Shaw once again filling in at centre-back alongside Victor Lindelof. Read next: How the United players rated vs Tottenham Ten Hag was happy with the performance of his central defenders in the draw, but admits he is unsure how he will solve the dilemma again on Sunday afternoon. “We have to look from game to game and now we have to focus on Villa and see what's the best against Villa,” Ten Hag said in his post-match press conference.“But we don't have so many options in that position.

Already a left full-back like Luke is doing great now as a left centre-back.” Asked for his verdict on the makeshift defensive partnership, he added: “When you give the balls away too often, then they [Tottenham] have more part in the game on the ball, in possession, then they [Lindelof and Shaw] get more tested in that part. “That was definitely the case, and then it got more difficult. “But I think all over they did, again, a good job.” Speaking after the match, Ten Hag was also asked for an update on club captain Maguire after he missed the trip to Tottenham through injury. “In this moment, I can’t say anything about that," he told MUTV. "We have to wait, to talk with the medical and to talk with Harry.