Manchester United’s first-choice center-back Harry Maguire and left-back Luke Shaw have made their return to first-team training after being sidelined due to injuries.
The duo’s recovery comes just in time for the Red Devils’ upcoming FA Cup clash against Newport County.
Managed by Erik ten Hag, Manchester United is gearing up to face League Two side Newport County in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Sunday at Rodney Parade.
In the previous round, Manchester United defeated Wigan Athletic, a team from the third tier, to secure their spot in the last 32, while Newport County eliminated non-league Eastleigh earlier this month.
Due to schedule congestion and a postponed Premier League fixture, Manchester United has only played one league match in January.
The team drew against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford, with goals from Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford. With their focus now shifted to the cup clash, Manchester United is hoping for a boost in their squad’s fitness.
Harry Maguire, the England international, was spotted back in training on Tuesday after a month-long absence due to an injury suffered during the Champions League match against Bayern Munich on December 12.
Maguire was forced off the pitch after just 40 minutes, marking the end of Manchester United’s European campaign for the season.
Since the injury, Maguire has missed six matches, including defeats against West Ham United and Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, as well as a goalless draw against Liverpool at Anfield.
Maguire has been a key player for Manchester United this season, with increased game time compared to the previous campaign, especially with other defenders like Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez spending time in the medical room.
Luke Shaw, the team’s left-back, was also seen training with his teammates on Tuesday. Shaw has been out of action since the 2-0 loss to David Moyes’s West Ham United on December 23.
In the current season, Shaw has played in only eight Premier League matches, starting in all of them and accumulating a total of 695 minutes of game time.
It remains uncertain whether Maguire and Shaw will be available for the fourth-round clash against Newport County.
However, Manager Erik ten Hag may see this match against a fourth-tier opponent as an opportunity to give some of his returning players valuable minutes on the pitch.
Newport County, managed by Graham Coughlan, currently sits in 14th position in League Two. They are five points behind seventh-placed MK Dons in a tightly contested middle section of the division.