During Manchester United’s triumph over Fulham, Harry Maguire received head and hand injuries in separate instances.

Maguire stopped play after only 39 seconds because he felt disoriented after colliding with Muniz Carvalho. The Manchester United defender was examined by club doctor Gary O’Driscoll and cleared the concussion protocol.

Maguire went down again in the second half, although United manager Erik ten Hag said it was a hand injury.

Ten Hag chose Maguire for the sixth game in a row, and the England international helped United keep only their third clean sheet in the Premier League this season.

“He was playing a massive, massive game, a very good performance. He showed leadership in and out of possession, he was very good. So I’m very pleased with that performance from Harry,” Ten Hag said.

Marcus Rashford arrived in London but failed a fitness test on Saturday morning after picking up a knock during United’s last training session on Friday.

“Yes, he had some complaints after training,” Ten Hag confirmed. “He travelled with us but today the complaints were that much he couldn’t start, it would be a risk to start him and lose him over more weeks and games.

So we didn’t want to go with the risk because we have many more important games to play.”

Bruno Fernandes scored the only goal at Craven Cottage in the 91st minute, giving United two of their six Premier League victories this season.

United players referred to Brentford’s defeat as a “turning point” last month, only to have their momentum snuffed out by 3-0 home defeats to Manchester City and Newcastle United.

“I think always from game to game and in this week, we were definitely not happy with our standards,” Ten Hag added. “Today we improved in our standards but we have to bring it every game.

Everyone knows that but you have to bring it, you have to bring that level and that starts with mentality, the right attitude. You have to show you are hungry, that you have passion and desire.

And when we bring that we have a very good dressing room, can play a very good performance, they will get results. But that foundation is always there.

For instance, [against] Brentford, now we see it again. It is a good dressing room, they fight for each other, they know what the standards are at Manchester United. You have to win every game and they know they have to do it together and this attitude you need to play at this club.”

Ten Hag admitted that United’s strikers are underperforming. Rashford is the only winger or striker to have scored for the club in the league this season, and Antony was replaced to applause from United’s away fans.

“Bruno is also an offensive player but it’s clear, we expect that from them because they are capable and we are confident they will do it. If they keep working, if they keep composed, keep confidence then it will come.”