MANCHESTER UNITED stars have been training ahead of the Community Shield amid a defensive crisis.
The Red Devils take on cross-city rivals Manchester City in the season curtain-raiser on Saturday at Wembley Stadium.
Erik ten Hag led Manchester United’s training session
Lisandro Martinez was one of the few defenders to take part
Joshua Zirkzee was involved in his first session since joining the club
Youngster Toby Collyer linked up with the first-team
Erik ten Hag will be racking his brain ahead of the clash, however, with three key names missing from training.
The Dutch manager could be without defenders Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Maguire missed Man United’s last pre-season clash against Liverpool.
The trio were not spotted in training with the club as Ten Hag confirmed there are doubts over their availability.
He said: “Harry Maguire missed the game as a precaution, he is a question mark for Saturday.
“So we have training, and we will have to see whether he is fit enough or not to be available.
“Victor played, but he is also a question mark, and so is Azza [Aaron Wan-Bissaka].
“We have to see about [them] tomorrow.”
Ten Hag also revealed that Luke Shaw will be assessed as the full-back missed out on the club’s US tour.
The England international was involved at the Euros in Spain and returned to Carrington last week.
Jadon Sancho is back in the Man United squad
The team take on Manchester City in the Community Shield this weekend
Lisandro Martinez could feature for the Red Devils, but Ten Hag was coy about some player’s involvement.
He added: “That is [on an] individual basis and every [player] has a different background
“We put them all on off-season programmes but they all have different starts as well in pre-season and in the weeks we were in the USA.
“So from individual to individual we will assess them and make a decision whether they start, come from the bench or they don’t play.”
Three players who will definitely miss out will be Tyrell Malacia, Rasmus Hojlund and summer signing Leny Yoro.
The trio have been ruled out with long-term injuries and will miss the start of the Premier League season.
If there’s a breakthrough in Man United and West Ham United’s negotiations, Wan-Bissaka might also miss the match.
During his first practice with the team, Joshua Zirkzee was seen, and he may play a significant part in Hojlund’s absence.
The forward was beaming with joy as he and his new teammates took on the challenge.
Ten Hag, however, was keen to insist that the team he puts out will still be competitive.”
He stressed: “The game is about another trophy.
“So we will put out a team that competitive to win the trophy – but we won’t be going into any big risks.
“We will assess the players on whether they start, are on the bench or don’t play.”
