Erik Ten Hag has already told Man United new comer he will replace Maguire as Captain after his impressive start
Erik ten Hag has already told Bruno Fernandes he will replace Harry Maguire as captain, suggests Dwight Yorke
Dwight Yorke says Bruno Fernandes has already been told he would take over as Manchester United’s permanent captain from Harry Maguire.
Erik ten Hag pulled Maguire from the United starting XI following the disappointing season openers against Brighton and Brentford, with Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane becoming the manager’s first-choice duo.
His prospects of breaking back into the team were hampered by a hamstring injury sustained while on international duty with England, which kept the former Leicester City player out of United’s last seven games.
Fernandes has led the side as a result of Maguire’s absence, both forced and voluntary.
While the attacking midfielder’s goal return has been questioned, ten Hag has praised him for his “huge role” in the team.
Yorke, a member of United’s historic Treble-winning squad, feels Fernandes is thriving with the responsibility and that talks about him permanently assuming the armband has already taken place.
‘Before he was the stand-in captain, which wasn’t a problem,’ he explained to Lord Ping. Looking from the outside in at the club without knowing all the circumstances, I believe Maguire has been told he will be the captain going forward.
‘When a manager tells you something like that, that weight is lifted.’ So he’s thinking, ‘OK, this is my new role.’
‘That clarity benefits the team and allows him to go out and do what needs to be done.’
‘Obviously, with Maguire at the club, I wouldn’t expect this to be an official announcement this season, but perhaps the manager has had a conversation with him and that has given him the confidence he needed as a player.’
Maguire returned to training this week, providing a welcome boost for ten Hag, who will be without Varane for the final few games before the World Cup.
After suffering a hamstring injury in Saturday’s 1-1 tie with Chelsea, the France international exited Stamford Bridge in tears.
According to reports, the 29-year-old has a chance of recuperating in time for France’s campaign in Qatar.
