Erik ten Hag's Manchester United selection dilemma has been solved by accident

When Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez sustained injuries this month, the door opened for Harry Maguire to make a statement. Manchester United's first-choice centre-backs had been sidelined and it was time for Maguire to deliver. He had the opportunity to come into the starting side, heal his reputation with supporters to an extent, and end the campaign positively.

Maguire started against Nottingham Forest and overcame a difficult start at the City Ground to perform well, but the second leg against Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium followed and he was back at square one again.

Although David de Gea had to take more responsibility for Sevilla's first goal in that match, Maguire should not have asked for the pass and a higher-quality player - someone who has better awareness - would have managed to play out.

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It wasn't a good look and he played his part in the Sevilla debacle. The FA Cup semi-final against Brighton came next for United and Maguire was suspended for that match, which saw Luke Shaw move to central defence with Victor Lindelof.

Shaw, who has taken to playing at centre-back like a duck to water, and Lindelof were exceptional in that game and there was a feeling they would have retained their partnership to play Tottenham, regardless of Maguire being unavailable again.

Maguire sustained a knock in training in the build-up to the Tottenham match earlier this week and he was absent from the squad in the capital on Thursday. Would the club captain have returned to the line-up if fit? Only Ten Hag knows that.

The 30-year-old has made just seven league starts and it would have been the diplomatic selection to play him. That dilemma