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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer provides Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire injury updates ahead of Bournemouth clash


Marcus Rashford was substituted with an injury concern on Wednesday night (Picture: Getty Images)

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is optimistic that both Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire will be fit to face Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday.

The Red Devils came through a hard-fought Carabao Cup fourth round tie with Chelsea on Wednesday, with a Rashford brace securing a 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge.

However, there were concerns for Solskjaer as Rashford appeared to have an issue with his knee, forcing him to be substituted with 10 minutes left, while Maguire played through pain at the end of the contest with all three subs having been used.

Victor Lindelof also went off with a fitness concern, receiving treatment on the sidelines in the second half.

It is a quick turnaround for United as they travel to take on Bournemouth at 12.30pm on Saturday, but Solskjaer expects to have his ‘sore’ players available for the trip to the south coast.

‘We’re playing football, it’s not basketball,’ Solskjaer told MUTV of knocks to Rashford and Maguire. ‘Some of them are sore but you should be absolutely down on your knees, because it’s worth it.

‘But they’re quick healers and hopefully they’ll be ready for Saturday.’

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has picked up three wins on the spin (Picture: Getty Images)

Rashford is in fine form, scoring a penalty and a sensational free-kick against the Blues to book his team a place in the quarter-finals against Colchester United.

The strikes make it five goals in as many games for club and country for the 22-year-old and he earned himself some kind words from his manager.

‘He’s got a great mentality and a great character,’ Solskjaer continued.

‘I told him this morning “if we get a penalty, you take it. Just make your mind up where you’re going to put it and hit it as sweet as you like.”‘

Rashford himself is pleased that United are finding some form, winning their third game on the bounce after a dodgy run of results.

The England international’s only faux pas was that he forgot he was playing in a cup match and that no points were on offer at Stamford Bridge.

‘We’ve been in a tough place,’ said the striker. ‘We’re still getting through that phase and the only way to do it is to fight your way through it and get three points because at the end of the day they’re the things that keep everybody happy.

‘When you go home and you’ve won the game, whether it’s home or away, that’s when you wake up with a good feeling. So we just want to recreate that as much as possible this season.

‘The main focus for us is improvement and development because we’re definitely going places. From pre-season, we did a lot of good work. The start of the season wasn’t exactly what we expected but we’ve got to get through it and get back to winning games.’

MORE: James Maddison sends message to Marcus Rashford after Manchester Utd beat Chelsea

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