Harry Maguire 'granted special permission by Erik ten Hag to go on holiday' to 'clear his head'

This week, Manchester United captain Harry Maguire was given 'special permission' by Erik ten Hag to take a break in a bid to 'clear his head', according to reports.

The 29-year-old defender, who has struggled for form this season, suffered a hamstring injury during England's 3-3 draw against Germany at the end of last month.

And as he continues to recover from the knock that will rule him out of Sunday's Premier League clash against Everton, it has emerged that Maguire spent the past week in Portugal at the golf resort of Quinta do Lagofor.

That's according to a report from The Sun, who suggest Maguire was given a break with family members to help him 'clear his head' as his teammates stuttered to a 3-2 win against Omonia Nicosia in the Europa League.

Erik ten Hag, who has previously insisted that all injured players remain at the club’s training ground during recovery, is 'desperate' for the England international to rediscover some form in the coming months.

So much so that he has taken a special exception to his own rule to make it happen.

A source reportedly said: "Erik has high standards for everyone to abide by. He expects all injured players to remain with the group.

"He believes they should function as one unit - injured or not. But in Harry's case he felt there were exceptional circumstances. He wanted him to have a mental break from the pressure he's under.

"He went away with his family and Erik hopes that will put him in a better place to recover from injury and rediscover his form."

Maguire has been dropped for the majority of league games this season, with Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane being preferred by manager Ten Hag.

But the former Ajax boss has continued to publicly back his defender.

“I have to back him but I back him because I believe in him," Ten Hag said after Maguire's cameo for England last month.

“I can see the qualities and even after he wasn’t in the team he trained really well and, more importantly, the quality was really there.

“You see his career, almost 50 caps for England, for Leicester and Man United - he’s performing really well, what you see is high potential.

“And then it’s about him. The players in the dressing room, the coaches, the manager believe in him.

“That’s what I told him, I’m sure he can do it and he will turn it around, I’m convinced of that.”

Last month, after Manchester United full-back Brandon Williams suggested that the players don't listen to criticism, Maguire agreed following England's loss to Italy before claiming it's all just for "clicks".

"I am all good, ready to play, I feel fit and fresh. On my form, I don't know what has been said, I don't really read about it," he told talkSPORT.

"I came off the back of three positive games with England in the summer, and a good pre-season, I felt really good.

"Obviously, the manager [Erik ten Hag] decided to leave me out for a game, and the team have been winning since.

"I am working hard on the training pitch to make sure I am ready for when my opportunity comes. That is all what I can do to try and help the team.

"I am not concentrating on anybody else and what people are saying, I think if people can make a story about me, I am Manchester United captain, it is going to make big news.

"So, that is the reason they do it, they like the clicks, and things like that, but I went into the Euros after an eight-week injury, and did not play one game, and got into the team of the tournament.

"In terms of rustiness, and things like that, I am sure that won't happen."