Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw return to Manchester United training

By Carter White | 23 January 2024

Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw return to Man United training

Manchester United duo Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw are back in first-team training, although it is unclear whether either will be fit to face Newport County on Sunday.

Manchester United duo Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw have returned to first-team training following their respective injury layoffs.

Erik ten Hag's side are preparing for a clash with League Two outfit Newport County in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon at Rodney Parade.

The Red Devils dispatched third-tier side Wigan Athletic in the third round to book their place in the last 32, while the Welsh club knocked non-league Eastleigh out of the competition earlier this month.

Man United have played just the single Premier League match in January, sharing the spoils with Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford, where Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford managed to get onto the scoresheet.

Following the stalemate with Ange Postecoglou's Lilywhites, all attention has turned to a cup clash this weekend, with Ten Hag's side potentially set for an injury boost.

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire on December 12, 2023 © Reuters

England international Maguire was pictured in first-team training on Tuesday after a period on the sidelines due to an injury sustained last month.

The 30-year-old was forced off after just 40 minutes of the Champions League clash with Thomas Tuchel's Bayern Munich on December 12, when the Red Devils' European journey ended for another season.

Maguire has missed United's last six matches, including losses at West Ham United and Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, as well as a goalless draw at Anfield against Liverpool.

With the likes of Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez enduring spells in the medical room earlier in this campaign, Maguire has seen an increase in his Premier League game time compared to last term.

Bayern Munich's Kingsley Coman in action with Manchester United's Luke Shaw on December 12, 2023 © Reuters

Also spotted training among his teammates on Tuesday was left-back Shaw, who has not featured in a competitive sense since the 2-0 defeat at David Moyes's Hammers on December 23.

Shaw has only played in eight top-flight matches for the Red Devils this season - starting all of those - combining to a total of 695 minutes of Premier League action.

It is currently unclear whether Maguire or Shaw will be available for the fourth-round clash at Newport, however Ten Hag may view the game against fourth-tier opposition as a good chance to give some of his returning players first-team minutes.

Graham Coughlan's County occupy 14th position in League Two, five points behind seventh-placed MK Dons in a highly-congested middle section of the division.