HARRY MAGUIRE was left red-faced on his first game as Manchester United captain – after forgetting about about the coin toss.
The 85million defender, 26, completely forgot about his duties as he jogged off to take his position with his team-mates ahead of the Europa League clash with Partizan Belgrade.
The referee desperately shouted after him to call him back, as Maguire sheepishly returned to shake the hands of the match officials.
Ref Xavier Estrada Fernandez could be heard shouting, “Maguire! Harry!”, after the Man Utd skipper, as Partizan’s captain Vladimir Stojkovic waited patiently.
It was a rookie mistake from a player who was recently described as “only as good as a Sunday league player” by Rafael van der Vaart.
But Maguire can be forgiven for his gaffe, given that it was his first game as United captain in the absence of regular leader Ashley Young.
He can also be forgiven for having his mind on other things in his second trip to Eastern Europe in as many weeks.
Maguire was part of the England team who were racially abused by a group of Bulgaria fans for their Euro 2020 qualifier in Sofia.
Ahead of the game, the former Leicester man suggested he was a little nervous about the potential for more vile abuse.
Speaking ahead of the game, Maguire said: “We will trust Uefa to follow their protocol.
“Sofia was a sickening atmosphere, something I don’t want to be part of again.
“We’re positive tomorrow night will be a great atmosphere, one we’re all looking forward to playing in.
“If something does goes off, then we’ll follow the three-step protocol and I’m sure there will be people on and off the pitch doing their bit to make things better for the future.”
Boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer added: “In the aftermath of what happened in Bulgaria we had a meeting with the boys and, as Harry said, we’ve gone through the protocol.
“But I believe in people and I’m sure the atmosphere here will be fantastic, we’ll try and keep them quiet by playing good football.
“We’ve spoken in general on subjects but of course Harry and Marcus Rashford who were in Bulgaria, they were freer to talk about the atmosphere, how it was, what we can expect, what’s the worst-case scenario.”
