Why Harry Maguire doesn't start for Manchester United vs Southampton
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has said tiredness is the reason behind Harry Maguire's omission from the starting XI for tonight's clash with Southampton at Old Trafford.
The centre-back will start the visit of the Premier League's bottom club on the bench, making way for Leny Yoro in the starting line-up. Maguire missed two training sessions ahead of the weekend's FA Cup win over Arsenal through illness and was substituted in the first half of extra-time.
Amorim said he would be assessed ahead of tonight's game when speaking to the media at Carrington yesterday lunchtime. Covering for him at centre-back, Yoro is making his first start since the 2-0 defeat to Wolves at Molineux on Boxing Day.
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The Frenchman joined United from Lille last summer and has been playing catch-up after suffering a serious injury in pre-season. However, Amorim insists he is ready to make his mark.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Amorim said: "Harry is tired and he had a tough week. I think Southampton will play without a striker and with more speed in front.
"Leny is a quick player and he is a top talent. He is ready to cope with the demands of the game."
Pressure is on United this evening to record their first league win in almost five weeks after such encouraging performances away at Liverpool and Arsenal.
"The feeling is a bit different, but we know for sure that it's going to be a tough match," added Amorim. "At home, our fans expect more from us and that's extra pressure, but we are ready to face this team, and we are going to face the game in the right way.
"I want to see the same behaviour when we don't have the ball and set-pieces, the small things. Then we have to be better with the ball. We will try to improve the last game and that's what we are going to do."