Noussair Mazraoui and Harry Maguire injury latest after fresh Man Utd blow

Erik ten Hag is unsure of the severity of Harry Maguire’s injury after the Manchester United centre-half was forced off along with Noussair Mazraoui during the goalless draw with Aston Villa.

Maguire returned to the starting XI on Sunday alongside Jonny Evans with Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez dropped to the bench.

The pair put in impressive displays at the back but the former United captain was forced off at half-time, appearing to have tweaked a muscle while defending a corner kick.

Maguire looked in some pain as he was helped from the pitch by two members of United’s backroom staff. He was replaced at the break with de Ligt coming on for the second-half.

Mazraoui, ever-present at right-back this season following his summer move from Bayern Munich, also did not emerge for the second period with Victor Lindelof coming on for his first appearance of the season.

‘We have to take them off at half-time. Tomorrow we have to see what is the diagnosis on it,’ ten Hag told BBC Sport.

He added in his post-match interview with MUTV: ‘We have to assess this. I can’t tell you now what the issue is.

‘I know what the issue is but [I cannot say now] how good or bad it is. We have to see assess this tomorrow [Monday] and then we will bring you news.’

With the international break underway, United will have time for their players to recover, not back in action until 19 October against Brentford.

Ten Hag will hope Sunday’s draw in front of Sir Jim Ratcliffe will be enough to keep him in the job following disastrous performances against Tottenham and Porto last week.

‘We always speak. Every week we speak,’ Ten Hag said.

‘We are all on board, all together, on one page. We know what we are working towards.

‘It’s a long-term project and we have to keep improving the process.

‘We had two very tough away games and we showed the togetherness and the spirit, but also the players show the belief and the faith they have.’