Ole issues Harry Maguire update
Manchester United face an anxious wait to discover the extent of the damage sustained by Harry Maguire during the 3-1 win at Aston Villa.
The skipper was hurt in a challenge with Anwar El Ghazi in a second half that saw the Reds come from behind to score three times to take the points and maintain our unbeaten Premier League run all season on the road, with only a trip to Wolves to come this term.
Although he tried valiantly to play on after receiving treatment, the defender was forced to be replaced by Eric Bailly on 78 minutes.
90 in 20: Aston Villa 1 United 3
Watch the extended highlights of United's terrific comeback victory over Villa, courtesy of three second-half strikes...
Ole was asked if the problem could rule Maguire out for the season, including the Europa League final against Villarreal on 26 May.
Hopefully that [the final] will be with Harry Maguire, I don’t know," said the boss. "We’ve got to check it. It might be a few weeks, might be a couple of days - who knows. I’m not a doctor and we’ve got to check him and scan him tomorrow.”
"It was his ankle, lower leg," he added. "I think the boy landed on top of him. So he twisted his ankle and got a knock.”
The injury means Maguire loses his record of playing every single minute in the Premier League since joining the club from Leicester City.
The fact he has played 71 full games in succession, this was his 72nd appearance, means he only gets to share the record for an outfield United player in the division with Gary Pallister.
Ironically, Pallister's run also ended due to an injury at Villa Park, in the opening game of the 1995/96 campaign.
"Harry has been excellent and it’s almost unheard of, the minutes he’s played," added the boss. “His fitness is very good - he’s robust. But, today, it looked like the boy landed on him and he twisted his ankle. I don’t know how serious it is. He might be available on Tuesday, he might not.”
United face Harry's former club Leicester City on Tuesday night before another high-level assignment, against Liverpool, at Old Trafford on Thursday.
The manager had already stressed Maguire would not be able to play throughout this spell of three games in five days but the England international must now be very doubtful for the two upcoming fixtures.