Erik ten Hag will speak to journalists at his pre-match press conference on Wednesday evening ahead of Manchester United's match against Barcelona and Luke Shaw is set to sit alongside him - a clear indicator that he will start at the Camp Nou.
The general rule of thumb is the player who joins the manager at the press conference is a certain starter and Shaw will be disappointed if that is broken on Thursday night, although it's unlikely he will start in his natural position of left-back.
That's because when the team news was confirmed on Sunday afternoon for United's match against Leeds at Elland Road, it was a surprise to see Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane named on the bench with Shaw and Harry Maguire in the centre instead, but Ten Hag explained it was for 'tactical or rotation' reasons and it was clear he was thinking about Barcelona.
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Martinez is suspended for Thursday's match against Barcelona, which means the fixture at Elland Road felt like an opportunity for Shaw to get experience playing at centre-back again, following multiple successful appearances in that role.
Shaw started with Maguire in the centre against Leeds but it seems highly likely only one will retain their starting role in Barcelona, as Varane, who has been outstanding this season, appears a certainty to start at a rival's stadium he knows well.
Considering that Shaw will speak at the pre-match press conference, that suggests Maguire will return to the bench. The club captain has accepted a reduced role this term and Shaw's promotion above him in the centre-back pecking order is telling.
Although Shaw has been exceptional in the centre of defence, it's a clear sign that Maguire's days are numbered if he can't start over a natural left-back, but to his credit, he's remained professional when others might be demotivated in that scenario.
After Maguire started against Charlton at Old Trafford in the quarter-final of the League Cup last month, he was asked about his limited involvement this season and his answer was exactly what Ten Hag would have wanted to hear.
"It felt good [starting], I played last week as well against Bournemouth. I was unfortunate in terms of when I come back from the World Cup, I had a bad illness," Maguire told MUTV in his post-match interview.
"It knocked me back for one or two weeks. I feel good now. We have a lot of good centre-halves at this club, there’s a lot of competition for places and I’ll keep fighting."
The 29-year-old's professionalism and attitude have never been questioned during his almost four-year stay in Manchester, but there is no denying he's a limited centre-back, who only seems to succeed in the right set-up, just like with England.
Maguire plays his best football for England but his qualities aren't what United need. He's too often clumsy on the ball, his passing can be wayward and his lack of pace against the Premier League's best forwards has always been a concern.
The defender has made just five starts in the league this season and it would be a surprise to see him remain at the club beyond the end of the campaign. Maguire wants regular football and that can't be guaranteed, so a departure feels inevitable.
It also feels even more inevitable with Shaw starting over him. Maguire and Shaw are friends and have spent plenty of time together for United and England, but it seems he privately won't be happy with the latter playing at centre-back instead of him.
Ten Hag is expected to start Diogo Dalot, Varane, Shaw and Tyrell Malacia against Barcelona, which means Maguire will be making the trip to Spain to watch from the sidelines, although he'll take comfort in knowing the summer window is approaching.
United will play in the League Cup final on February 26 and that is an opportunity for him to leave having won a trophy. His time at the club hasn't worked out, but he can leave proud knowing he's remained professional in difficult circumstances.
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