Harry Maguire is expected to miss the remainder of the Premier League season after being ruled out for around three weeks with a muscle injury sustained in training.

The England international, 31, has a chance of returning for the FA Cup final against Manchester City and is expected to fully recover in time for this summer’s European Championship, which begins in Germany on June 14.

He is set to miss Manchester United’s final four matches of the Premier League season against Crystal Palace, Arsenal, Newcastle United and Brighton. United conclude the season with the FA Cup final at Wembley on May 25, facing rivals City in a repeat of last season’s final.

Maguire’s absence adds to United’s defensive injury list, with Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw, Willy Kambwala, Jonny Evans and Tyrell Malacia all sidelined. Evans is in contention to return against Palace on Monday after a month out, having returned to training this week.

United’s extensive injury list has forced defensive midfielder Casemiro to deputise at centre-back alongside Maguire in recent weeks.

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Maguire was stripped of the United captaincy in the summer and was close to a move to West Ham United, but opted to stay at Old Trafford and forced himself back into Erik ten Hag’s plans.

He has featured 31 times in all competitions this season and previously missed a month of action between December and January with a groin injury.

“I had two or three opportunities last season to get a run of games but I broke down with illness, I broke down with injuries twice, so I never got the rhythm and never got the run of games that I could prove myself to the manager,” Maguire said in November.

“I have got that now, I am really enjoying my football and I really enjoy playing for this club. I was willing to stay and fight for my place and we have four or five top international centre-backs at this club and the competition for places is really high.”

United are eighth in the Premier League and can move above Newcastle into sixth with victory at Selhurst Park on Monday.

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