Harry Maguire was given special permission by Erik ten Hag to go on holiday this week and ‘clear his head’, according to a report.
The defender has endured a torrid campaign for both club and country so far this season, and is unavailable for selection as he struggles with a hamstring injury picked up on international duty.
According to The Sun, ten Hag made a special exception to his usual rule that injured players must stay with the squad to allow Maguire to holiday at the golf resort of Quinta do Lagofor in an attempt to help him rediscover his form.
Maguire sat out of United’s 3-2 Europa League win over Omonia on Thursday, and will miss their trip to Everton today as he continues to recover from the issue.
The Red Devils captain has been resigned to the bench for the majority of this season, with ten Hag preferring Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez at centre-back to the England man.
ten Hag is said to be desperate to see Maguire regain form soon, and he has taken drastic measures to try and help this happen.
A source reportedly said: ‘Erik has high standards for everyone to abide by. He expects all injured players to remain with the group.
‘He believes they should function as one unit – injured or not.
‘But in Harry’s case he felt there were exceptional circumstances. He wanted him to have a mental break from the pressure he’s under.
‘He went away with his family and Erik hopes that will put him in a better place to recover from injury and rediscover his form.’
It is reported however that Maguire’s absence this week has caused further rifts in the United dressing room, with players said to have clashed after their 6-3 Manchester derby defeat last weekend.
ten Hag reportedly got players together on Monday for an analysis of the game but the meeting is said to have boiled over.
Martinez and midfielder Scott McTominay are said to have been among the most vocal players at the meeting.