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Football

03rd Jan 2022

Phil Jones in contention for first Premier League appearance in two years after Harry Maguire injury

Reuben Pinder

Return of the king

Phil Jones is in contention to start Manchester United’s clash with Wolves tonight (Monday 3rd) with captain Harry Maguire ruled out through injury.

As reported by the Athletic, Maguire picked up a knock when he completed 90 minutes against Burnley last time out at Old Trafford. In the same game, Eric Bailly had to be replaced after 66 minutes by Raphael Varane due to a tight hamstring.

Bailly was not seen at the team’s Lowry Hotel base, but still has a chance of playing, according to the report.

With Victor Lindelof isolating with Covid-19, Ralf Rangnick’s centre-back options are now looking extremely thin, meaning Jones could come back into the team for his first start in two years.

The Athletic report that Jones has impressed United’s new boss in training but with only two U23 starts under his belt, the 29-year-old will be lacking match sharpness.

An alternative option is that Nemanja Matić could drop into the back four as an auxiliary central defender as he did against Young Boys in the Champions League on December 8th.