Harry Maguire needed medical attention after going down inside the first 40 seconds at FulhamCredit: Reuters

Maguire headed Rodrigo Muniz’s shoulder in the opening secondsCredit: TNT Sports

And in the very first minute of the match, Maguire needed medical attention.

He headed Fulham striker Rodrigo Muniz’s shoulder as he defended against the Brazilian.

A few moments later, he had the ball under no pressure and deliberately played it out for a throw-in before immediately bending over.

He looked dazed and dizzy as he took a seat on the pitch, putting up a hand of apology.

A shaken Maguire, 30, appeared to have taken a knock around his left eye and team-mates rushed over to him.

The former captain needed to be checked over by the United docs to ensure he was safe to continue as Raphael Varane warmed up on the sidelines.

TNT Sports commentator Darren Fletcher described the incident as “very concerning”.

But after a lengthy stoppage, Maguire was given the all clear and allowed to continue.

However, supporters voiced their concerns that Maguire could be concussed – and called for a fuller head injury assessment.

One tweeted: “Maguire clearly dazed!! Why on earth doesn’t football just adopt HIA protocol like rugby?

“He’s just taken a head injury and as a centre-back is likely to have to repeatedly head the ball in the next 40 minutes. When will we learn?”

Another wrote: “Maguire seems okay, but I think football is in the dark ages letting him play on immediately.

“Allow for a proper ten-minute head injury assessment and bring on a ‘concussion’ sub.”

Maguire was back in the thick of the action within a couple of minutes as Scott McTominay thought he put United in front.

However, the goal was ruled out after a VAR check because the England international was offside and made an attempt to play the ball from the original free-kick, which Alejandro Garnacho got on the end of to square for an easy tap-in.

PASSED THE TESTS

In the second half, Maguire keeled over again and was once more assessed by the doctor but still carried on.

Referee John Brooks waved on the medic who talked to the £85million defender and took him off the pitch – before he was allowed to return to the field and continue, playing the full 90 minutes.

Afterwards, though, manager Erik ten Hag bizarrely claimed the second piece of treatment was due to a hand injury.

He told TNT Sports: “I heard he had a hand injury that hurt him so he needed some treatment. That was the issue.”

But Maguire did not mention a hand injury when he spoke to MUTV after the last-gasp narrow victory.

He said: “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 and 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.

“It felt good to be able to get through the game, help the lads to a clean sheet and, more importantly, three points.”

The defender looked dazed as he received treatmentCredit: TNT Sports

Fans called for a full head injury assessment to be undertakenCredit: TNT Sports

John Brooks called on the medical team to check on Maguire in the second halfCredit: Getty

Maguire claims he passed the concussion testsCredit: Reuters

Maguire was offside as Scott McTominay’s opener was ruled outCredit: Getty