Ole Gunnar Solskjaer backs Harry Maguire to ‘bounce back’ from early season troubles

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has backed Harry Maguire to recover from his alarming slump in form – if the Manchester United captain is fit to face Newcastle on Saturday.

Solskjaer revealed that Maguire picked up a slight injury before he was sent off for England against Denmark in midweek and will be assessed on Friday.

Maguire’s red card was his latest setback in a difficult start to the season that followed his arrest on holiday in Greece during a brief pre-season break. 

Harry Maguire looks dismayed after being shown a red card during England’s loss to Denmark

Little has gone right for Manchester United’s captain during the early part of the season

United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has backed Maguire to ‘bounce back’ from his troubles

Solskjaer said at the time that he would monitor the player’s mood and mindset, but Maguire has been criticised for his performances for United before picking up two yellow cards in the defeat to the Danes at Wembley.

‘Harry has got great resilience, and knows he’ll bounce back,’ said Solskjaer. ‘He wants to play and work his way out of the last couple of games he’s been criticised.

‘He picked up a knock just before he came off (for England). We’ll have a look at him today.

‘In football you’re in the highlights all the time. When Harry beats No 1 ranked Belgium it’s a normal day, and you get the headlines when you get a sending-off. That’s football, the ups and downs, and you have to deal with it.’

Maguire’s problems have been the focal point of a poor start to the season for United who have lost two of their opening three Premier League games – including a crushing 6-1 defeat at home to Tottenham last time out.

Solskjaer revealed that he has been in touch with his players on international duty and challenged them to bounce back at Newcastle.

‘We know we’ve started the season badly and that game (Tottenham) ended really badly,’ he said. ‘We’ve now had two weeks to think about it, work on it with the others who were here, and the ones on internationals had positive and negative experiences.

‘We’ve been in touch with the ones that have been away. It’s one of those things you have to get over as soon as you can.

‘We know any little chance from the outside wants to create division. Bruno Fernandes spoke well the other day. We are united and have to stay together, we can’t listen to everyone outside. 

Maguire and United will aim to respond after their 6-1 thrashing by Tottenham last time out

Bruno Fernandes rubbished talk of a disagreement with Solskjaer after being taken off during the 6-1 defeat to Tottenham

‘Bruno has lost two league games and he came here in February. It’s been two in quick succession, he’s not used to losing league games but welcome to Man United, this is what happens.

‘They are going to try and create a division between us but it’s not going to happen. This is a group that wants to work together and stick together.’

On Newcastle, he added: ‘We need a response as we always do after we lose a game. You want to win the next one.

‘We want to try and dominate the game. The result is very important, but we want to see positive body language and mindset. You don’t get anywhere being negative. Go out there go for the win and see players who want to work for the points.’