The reason Harry Maguire was permitted to continue playing for Manchester United against Fulham despite the referee’s recommendation that he be substituted has been revealed.

Maguire suffered a head injury in the early stages of United’s 1-0 triumph at Craven Cottage after colliding with Fulham forward Rodrigo Muniz.

As he sought to challenge for the ball, the 30-year-old looked to accidently head Muniz’s shoulder.

After heading the ball out of play, Maguire went down again, with cameras showing the defender looking to have sustained a gash above his left eye.

Then, in the second half, referee John Brooks saw an issue with the England international after he went down for the third time, and informed United’s medical staff that the defender needed to leave the field to undergo additional treatment due to health concerns.

However, Maguire was hesitant to be replaced and later indicated that he could complete the contest.

Maguire was evaluated by United medical personnel utilizing the appropriate concussion protocols after sustaining a head injury in the incident with Muniz.

The defender passed such inspections and was thus allowed to continue, even after collapsing for the second time minutes later.

Despite the concern over Maguire’s health in the second half, manager Erik ten Hag said that he was dealing with a hand condition, which was unconnected to his first-half injury.

Ten Hag said after the game that the England defender had not been concussed, citing rules that allow teams to use two extra substitutes to replace players suffering from concussions and concussion-related injuries.

Speaking to MUTV, Maguire explained: “Obviously I got a knock really early on in the game. The doc did all the tests and I knew where I was and I was answering all the questions. I completed them [the concussion protocols] thankfully.

“If the doc says I’m okay to carry on then I’m always going to carry on.”