Harry Maguire is set to be given a one-match ban – ruling him out of Manchester United’s game at Chelsea – with the Football Association upholding his misconduct charge for swearing at a fourth official.
Maguire was sent off at Bournemouth last month and missed Monday’s defeat by Leeds United through suspension – but now faces a further one-match ban.
United are already likely to be without Lisandro Martinez, who is facing a three-match ban for a red card of his own against Leeds. That means their centre back pairing for Saturday’s Premier League match could be made up of 20-year-old Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven, 19.
The FA’s charge against Maguire, released earlier this month, said: ‘It is alleged that the defender acted in an improper manner and/or abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour towards the fourth official following his dismissal.’
That is understood to be swearing at fourth official Matt Donohue.
It leaves United, who are making an unlikely appeal against Martinez’s ban, in a tricky position for their game at Stamford Bridge.
Without Maguire against Leeds, United struggled to contain the physical threat of Dominic Calvert-Lewin who forced Yoro into an error for the first goal and then drew a red card from Martinez for pulling his hair.
Matthijs de Ligt is still out injured, having been sidelined since November 30.
United have not won any of the three games Yoro and Heaven have started together this season, conceding seven goals against Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Leeds when Ruben Amorim was in charge.
‘That’s why we have a squad,’ manager Michael Carrick said of fielding the young pair this week. ‘We have got players that we can call upon. We will go there and look forward to the game.
‘Hopefully Licha [Martinez] is still available. I certainly think he should be after that [red card], but we will see.’
Carrick also said he hopes Kobbie Mainoo’s absence ‘won’t be too long’ after he missed the defeat by Leeds.
