Erik ten Hag has suggested Luke Shaw’s move to central defence is only a short-term solution as Harry Maguire was again left out of his Manchester United starting line-up.
The England left-back shifted across the backline for the second game in a row as the Red Devils beat Wolves on New Year’s Eve.
Maguire had to make do with coming off the bench in stoppage time while Victor Lindelof also missed out, although both had struggled with illness over the festive period.
Lisandro Martinez’s return from an extended World Cup break could see Shaw return to left-back as Ten Hag explained the decision.
“We didn’t talk about long-term, we had a problem last week, he sorted it out,” he told talkSPORT. “In the first game Casemiro [played at centre-back], he also did wonderfully.
“[Shaw]’s been lined up there twice and tactically it was a good decision in the relation to the way Wolves play.”
Rio Ferdinand admitted his surprise as Maguire’s continued absence from the starting XI and urged the defender to consider leaving United if he remains out the side.
“It raised eyebrows when you saw Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire on the bench – it shows what Ten Hag thinks of those two guys!” he said on BT Sport.
“If I’m Harry Maguire, I’m looking for a new club right now. He’s faultless for England. At Man United, it hasn’t worked out for him. This new manager is showing him he’s not going to be one of the top two centre-backs.
“I’d be telling my agent to go and find me a new club where I can play regularly and enjoy my football.”
