Harry Maguire was at his imperious best against his former club as Manchester United prevailed against Leicester City on Saturday, thanks to an early penalty from Marcus Rashford. James Ducker was at Old Trafford to assess the pertinent issues...

Solskjaer’s young squad pass an important test

It was not pretty on the eye, and it was a game that frequently reinforced United’s pressing need for greater creativity going forward but, with Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial and Luke Shaw sidelined, this was the first serious test of the mettle of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad this term. United have often started well before wilting after the interval so Solskjaer will take comfort from the way his team dug deep after establishing an early lead through Marcus Rashford’s penalty and ground out an important win against Brendan Rodgers’s upwardly mobile and similarly youthful outfit.

Rashford’s penalty success in itself demonstrated a certain courage and conviction after his spot-kick miss in the defeat to Crystal Palace, just days after watching Paul Pogba miss from 12 yards following a debate about who would take it. The England striker, like his team-mates, coped well in the pressure cooker.

Maguire silences the boo boys

Harry Maguire was given a torrid reception by the travelling Leicester fans in his first meeting with his former club since his £80 million departure for Old Trafford last month. Did he deserve better after two years of sterling service and the dignified manner of his exit? Certainly, but it was the England centre-back who had the final word.