Erik ten Hag explains illness and injury behind Man Utd absences against Reading

Ten Hag picked a strong side to take on Reading in the fourth round of the FA Cup at Old Trafford, with big names throughout the team.

However, Shaw missed out due to illness, while McTominay may have hoped for a start but a knock has kept him out of contention.

‘Luke is ill and Scott has a small problem so we didn’t want to take a risk,’ Ten Hag told MUTV. ‘I hope he can be back on Wednesday [for the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest] but we are not sure.’

One absence that was not explained is that of Jadon Sancho, who fans were hoping to see for the first time since October.

The England international had been training away from the first team but returned this week and Ten Hag had hinted at an appearance on Saturday, but it has not emerged.

‘He’s training with the team, we will see,’ said the Dutchman ahead of the visit of Reading.

‘He is improving, making steps and we will make a decision after training. He’s on the way back and making steps, so he is back in team training and we have to see when he is ready to go back into games.’

On Maguire’s return to the starting XI, Ten Hag said: ‘Harry is back.

‘I already said yesterday [in the pre-match press conference] he was ill when he returned from the World Cup, otherwise he should have played a couple of games. But you have to play to get back into the rhythm. He did already play some games, but I think this is a good game for him to return in, especially when you see the height of the opponent.

‘He had some chances. But every player has to pick their chances. He is training very well, training very dominant. And that is what I want to see from him. He is a leader and captain and I have big expectations of him.’

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