Ruben Amorim turned to Harry Maguire to salvage a draw against Nottingham Forest as the Portuguese threw the big centre-back up front in the 1-0 defeat
22:59, 01 Apr 2025
Harry Maguire
Harry Maguire was thrown up front by Ruben Amorim(Image: Getty Images)
Ruben Amorim turned to Harry Maguire to salvage a draw against Nottingham Forest given Manchester United’s toothless strikers.
United were trailing 1-0 away at Champions League chasing Forest on Tuesday night since Anthony Elanga’s sublime solo strike in the fifth minute.
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Despite dominating the ball and racking up their attempts on goal, United were unable to find a way through the resolute Forest backline, seeing Amorim turn to Maguire in a last-ditch attempt to rescue a point.
Maguire replaced Leny Yoro in the 88th minute but immediately went up front alongside Rasmus Hojlund. But in his limited minutes, it was the English centre-back who came the closest to levelling the scores.
The 32-year-old was first unable to head home a cross from six yards, with the delivery just behind him. He then saw a stabbed effort goalwards cleared off the line by Murillo with the last kick of the game.
Murillo of Nottingham Forest blocks a shot on the line from Harry Maguire of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest FC and Manchester United FC
Harry Maguire saw a last-gasp shot cleared off the line(Image: Getty Images)
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Amorim’s desperation almost paid off, but fans were still left pulling their hair out watching the defender become United’s best chance of scoring.
One fan on X said: “Harry Maguire is a striker. Nah we are finished.” A second said: “Harry Maguire coming on centre forward for Utd. What a time to be alive.”
A third wrote: “Until Man Utd get a proper goal threat they will not improve. Putting Maguire up front effective but also a bit desperate.”
While another added: “Freezing out Rashford to put Maguire up front against Forrest away is quite literally insane lol, whether you rate Rashford or not.”
A fifth ranted: “Maguire being more of a box threat at centre forward than our actual forwards sums up exactly where we’re at, laughable”.
United’s miserable season in front of goal means Bruno Fernandes is the club’s top goalscorer in the Premier League this season with eight goals.
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Second in the list is Amad Diallo on six, who has been injured for the past couple of months, before Alejandro Garnacho comes third with four after he only broke a 24-game run without a goal against Leicester City last time out.
Then come United’s two strikers, Hojlund and Zirzkee, who have just three goals each this season – only one more than defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez.