MAN DOWN
Man Utd stars train ahead of Community Shield but three key names missing amid defensive injury crisis
One missing player could be set for a permanent exit
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.
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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.
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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."
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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.
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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.
Wan-Bissaka could also miss the game if there is a breakthrough in negotiations between Man United and West Ham United.
Joshua Zirkzee was spotted in his first training session with the club and could have a big role to play in Hojlund's absence.
The forward was all smiles as he took on the gauntlet with his new team-mates.
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.
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“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.”
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