Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has not featured for the club since picking up an injury on international duty with England at the end of last month.
United’s official early team news ahead of this week’s Omonia fixture stated Maguire is ‘still on the sidelines’.
Premier Injuries cite Maguire’s issue as a ‘thigh injury’ and pencil him in for a potential return on October 21.
The problem with this is that England’s World Cup squad is set to be announced on October 20, ESPN report.
Maguire’s race to prove fitness
Maguire has been viewed as a certainty to make the England squad despite poor form this season, with manager Gareth Southgate a huge fan of the defender, a regular in his side during the past four years.
Injury has the potential to ruin Maguire’s hopes, but he is reportedly confident this won’t be the case.
ESPN report Maguire is ‘confident’ he will be able to prove his fitness before Gareth Southgate names his squad.
United have Premier League matches against Newcastle and Tottenham before this date, although it’s unclear if he would feature in any.
Maguire’s previous record with England under Southgate is likely to grant him extra leeway.
Southgate may simply require medical and training reports on Maguire, rather than feeling he actually has to watch him in action.
It’s uncertain if Southgate will name the 26-man squad, or a larger squad which he later intends to trim down. This would work in Maguire’s favour if he is not quite fully fit by October 20.
Maguire has made just two Premier League starts for Manchester United this season.
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