England national team manager Gareth Southgate has stood by his decision to include Manchester United captain Harry Maguire in the national squad during the September international break despite the defender’s lack of matches under new manager Erik ten Hag at his club team.
While starting in Manchester United’s first two matches of the Premier League season—losses to Brighton and Brentford—Maguire has been benched in the Red Devils’ last four games. Manchester United won all four of the games when Maguire has been absent from the starting lineup.
Although Southgate expressed concern about Maguire’s lack of minutes, he retains his faith in the player’s abilities. “Another seven to eight weeks, that does start to become more complicated,” Southgate admitted. “But he is an important player for us and it’s important to back our best players. Whatever reputation I have, I’m putting it on there.”
Maguire has proven himself as a crucial member of the England squad in the past, playing as the Three Lions’ first-choice center back during their run to the final of Euro 2020. England has struggled in recent times, however, sitting at the foot of their Nations League group table with just two points. The team has just two games to turn their fortunes around and avoid relegation to League B of the competition.
