Manchester United set to receive triple fitness boost for FA Cup clash with Liverpool

The trio will once again be missing when the Red Devils continue their Premier League campaign at home to relegation-threatened Everton on Saturday afternoon.

However, Ten Hag is expecting all three to be fit for the FA Cup last-eight fixture with Liverpool on March 17.

"Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka I expect to be back for our game against Liverpool. Hojlund [is] similar, yeah," Ten Hag told reporters during his press conference on Friday afternoon.

The reason for Maguire's absence is unclear, with no official statement being made on the Englishman, but he has missed the team's last two fixtures against Nottingham Forest and Manchester City, having played and scored against Fulham in the Premier League on February 24.

Wan-Bissaka, meanwhile, has been restricted to just 17 appearances in all competitions during the 2023-24 campaign, including just 12 outings in the Premier League.

The 26-year-old has not played in England's top flight since the middle of January, having picked up a muscular problem before suffering a setback in training when attempting to make his return.

Wan-Bissaka's imminent return will ease Man United's full-back problems, as Luke Shaw is expected to be out for the rest of the season with a muscular injury, while Tyrell Malacia has still not played this season, with the Netherlands international bidding to recover from a knee injury which has required two separate operations.

Hojlund, meanwhile, has been absent from Man United's last three matches due to a muscular issue.

There had been hope that the Denmark international, who has been named the Premier League Player of the Month for February, could be back for the clash with Everton.

However, the 21-year-old's return is now expected to come at home to Liverpool in the FA Cup.

Hojlund has scored seven times and registered two assists in his last six Premier League appearances, while he netted against Newport County in the FA Cup at the end of January.

As well as Shaw and Malacia, Lisandro Martinez, Anthony Martial, Mason Mount and Tom Heaton are currently on the sidelines, while Omari Forson has also been added to the injury list.

However, Ten Hag said on Friday that both Marcus Rashford and Jonny Evans would be fit for the clash with Everton after injury scares in the Manchester derby last weekend.