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Harry Maguire could be handed instant Man Utd lifeline with start against Burnley with Varane and Martinez resting up

HARRY MAGUIRE could be handed an instant Manchester United lifeline.

The England star only returned to training along with eight other club-mates yesterday following Qatar duty.

England centre-back Harry Maguire hopes to face Burnley in the EFL Cup for an early chance to revive his Man Utd fortunes
Lisandro Martinez is still on a huge high after Argentina’s World Cup glory

But with Argentinian World Cup winner Lisandro Martinez and  beaten finalist Raphael Varane still resting, Old Trafford boss Erik ten Hag is short of defenders for the  EFL Cup fourth-round clash with Burnley on Wednesday night.

His only senior centre-back available for  their return to action is Victor Lindelof, while  prospect Teden Mengi, 20, damaged a knee a week ago in a  friendly with Cadiz in Spain.

And fellow  centre-half Axel Tuanzebe has not figured once this season.

Ten Hag has told £85million signing Maguire he can go if he does not want to fight for a place.

He headed for Qatar as fourth choice at the club.

But while yesterday was the first United  session for him, Marcus Rashford and Luke Shaw following quarter-final agony, he could be thrown straight back into action.

Before joining up with England, Ten Hag only gave  him seven games and just one Prem start, having dropped him in the wake of their 4–0 defeat by Brentford.

The Dutchman could deploy midfielder Scott McTominay alongside Lindelof at the back —   yet the United manager is also light on  numbers in the middle of the park.



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Meanwhile, United triggered one–year contract extensions with Rashford, Fred, Diogo Dalot and Shaw. Had the club not acted, all three could have  talked to interested parties next month.

United are desperate to keep Rashford — a target for Paris Saint–Germain.

The forward  rubbished claims  he is set  to sign a new £400,000-a-week deal but Ten Hag is anxious to ensure he is tied down to a new  long-term.

Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea’s contract expires next summer, though there are doubts over whether he will be kept on.

Triggering an extension on the 32-year-old’s deal would mean continuing to pay him his eye-watering  £375,000-a-week wages.

Raphael Varane will take a longer break from action as he recovers from the mental and physical strain of losing the World Cup final

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