Maguire’s injury details revealed, Carrick relieved! Teammates hope for his contract extension, saying it would be outrageous if Manchester United let him go.

Following Manchester United’s early exit from the FA Cup third round, the team had no fixtures this weekend and conducted standard training at Carrington. Central defender Harry Maguire took part in the group session, easing worries about the injury he sustained in the last game.

During the 1-1 draw with West Ham, Maguire seemed to have pulled his hamstring in the first half after battling El Hadji Malick Diouf, as he held the back of his thigh near the hamstring. Maguire continued playing but was substituted by Lenny Yaro in the 70th minute. Since Manchester United often rely on Maguire’s heading ability when needing goals, taking him off while trailing 0-1 was widely seen as injury-related.

However, Maguire joined Manchester United’s regular training and appeared to move freely, indicating his hamstring was not seriously injured, much to coach Carrick’s relief. The West Ham match marked Maguire’s fifth consecutive start since recovering from a thigh injury last month. Under Carrick’s management, the England defender, initially underrated, has outperformed younger players like Yaro and Eden Havn, partnering Lisandro Martinez at center-back, maintaining consistent form, and playing a key role in United’s strong performances.

In the five matches managed by Carrick, Manchester United kept two clean sheets, matching their record from the previous 23 Premier League rounds. Consequently, 32-year-old Maguire has earned praise and is widely expected to secure a contract extension with the club. This season, despite injury setbacks limiting him to only nine Premier League starts, United have lost just one game when he has started. Now, teammates believe the club must renew his contract.

The £80 million defender was once stripped of the captaincy under Ten Hag and faced abuse from his own fans, but he has redeemed himself through his performances, becoming indispensable. Maguire’s £190,000-per-week contract expires at the end of this season, and several clubs have already expressed interest.

However, Maguire prefers to remain at Manchester United, and most of his teammates believe the management should reward him with a new contract. Sources stated: “The players think it would be ridiculous if United don’t offer him a new deal. Harry has gone through many ups and downs at the club but has come through them all and is now performing excellently. He is highly respected in the dressing room and can pass his experience on to younger defenders like Havn and Yaro. Everyone likes and respects him, and most players want the club to extend his contract.”

Brown added: “If Amolin had stayed in charge, Harry definitely wouldn’t have gotten a new contract. But now with Carrick in charge, and Harry in great form, plus United having De Ligt, Yaro, and some youngsters, Carrick would surely want to keep Harry. That way, United would have him and Lima, plus two promising players, especially Yaro, who will definitely develop. So if they offer Harry a one-year contract, he’d accept, and everyone would be happy. Otherwise, many clubs would want to sign him on a free transfer.”

Reports say Manchester United will offer Maguire a new contract with a lower base weekly wage but more performance-related bonuses, potentially reaching up to £135,000 per week. Club legend Wes Brown revealed that Carrick fully supports this move. “Is Carrick willing to give Maguire a new contract? Absolutely, 100%,” Brown said. “I like Harry; when people criticized him before, they didn’t see the full picture. They just thought he wasn’t fast enough, but Harry has his strengths, especially his aerial ability, which is flawless. He gives his all every game and almost always positions himself correctly. He has vast experience at all levels of the game.”

Maguire is expected to start the next Premier League match as Dutch defender De Ligt is sidelined with a back injury and has no return date yet. Data shows De Ligt has missed 69 matches due to injury since the 2020/21 season, Maguire 56, and Lisandro Martinez 101. Despite being the oldest, Maguire has the highest participation rate among them.

A recent survey on a Manchester United fan site revealed that 78% of respondents believe the £80 million transfer fee paid seven years ago was justified.