Harry Maguire has struggled for game time under boss Erik ten Hag (Picture: Getty)

Paul Parker has slammed Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag over his ‘lie’ about defender Harry Maguire.

United beat Nottingham Forest 3-0 on Tuesday with Dutch manager Ten Hag claiming that Maguire had been struggling with illness in the build-up to the game and that fellow centre-back Raphael Varane would not feature.

But Ten Hag handed Varane a start – alongside left-back Luke Shaw in central defence – and the Frenchman played 77 minutes before he brought on Maguire from the bench for the last 13 minutes of normal time.

‘We had some problems with illness like Harry Maguire, but he was back on the training pitch [on Monday] so I’m happy with that,’ Ten Hag said earlier this week.

‘Rapha Varane and Licha Martinez, they are not there [back at United] but we hope on their comeback [soon].’

Former United defender Parker has hit out at Ten Hag over his deception as he told BonusCodeBets: ‘First of all we have to say that Luke Shaw did very well playing as a centre half.

‘He barely made a mistake and Manchester United didn’t really miss Harry Maguire.

‘But to be honest, I don’t believe the story about Harry Maguire being ill. It was a lie and it is totally fabricated. It doesn’t make any sense at all.

‘On a cold rainy night in Manchester there is no way you would ever let an ill man sit on the bench if he wasn’t ready. He was ready but Erik ten Hag preferred to play with Luke Shaw.’

Parker also lauded Casemiro as he added: ‘Man United’s best player against Nottingham Forest by a country mile [was Casemiro].

‘Since he started to play regularly for Man United he has been an absolutely key player for this team and he is one of the best in the world in his position.

‘His interceptions, his challenges and his passes are excellent. I’m pretty sure that Erik ten Hag now knows that if Man United want to have a successful season, Casemiro has to play all the key games.’

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‘It is totally fabricated!’