Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag (Photo by Diogo Cardoso/Getty Images)

What Erik Ten Hag ordered several Man United players to do day after FC Porto draw

by · Manchester Evening News

Erik ten Hag had several Manchester United players back on the grass and training less than 24 hours after Thursday's Europa League draw with FC Porto.

United took an early lead at the Estadio do Dragao through Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund but quickly found themselves facing a fourth defeat of the season as Pepe and Samu Omorodion (2) found the back of the net either side of half-time.

Harry Maguire spared United's blushes in second-half stoppage time as he headed home an equaliser when rising highest to connect with Christian Eriksen's corner.

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Just hours after the full-time whistle in Porto, Ten Hag had several United players training at Boavista's Estadio do Bessa stadium ahead of Sunday's Premier League game against Aston Villa.

Involved in the session on Friday afternoon were Joshua Zirkzee, Altay Bayindir, Johnny Evans, Victor Lindelof, Tom Heaton, Dan Gore, Harry Maguire, Kobbie Mainoo, Antony, Manuel Ugarte and Toby Collyer. Ten out of the 11 players taking part in Friday's session at the Estadio do Bessa were named in the squad for Thursday night's game, with Mainoo the only exception.

England international Mainoo, though, could make his return to action against Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon at Villa Park after suffering a hamstring injury against Tottenham Hotspur last week.

"So we had three players with issues going into this game. Harry Maguire, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo," said Ten Hag in his pre-Villa press conference. "Harry and Alejandro made the squad and were capable to play some minutes, whereas Mainoo didn’t make it. It was too big a risk.

"We have to wait and see if he [Mainoo] can play on Sunday. If he is fit enough to start or be on the bench."