Siddharth Juyal
Lee Sharpe warns England manager Gareth Southgate of the repercussions for sticking with Manchester United star Harry Maguire
Former Manchester United player Lee Sharpe advised England manager Gareth Southgate to drop Harry Maguire before it creates disharmony. The 30-year-old is struggling to get game-time at United under manager Erik ten Hag after falling down the pecking order.
Maguire has fallen behind Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez for the primary defensive pairing for the Red Devils. Southgate is facing questions and criticism for continually picking the defender despite his lack of regular football at club level.
The England international has been a pivotal figure in the English set-up under Southgate since the English boss took charge. The 30-year-old faced a barrage of criticism after scoring an own goal against Scotland in England’s 1-3 friendly win in September.
Sharpe spoke to Express about the repercussions Southgate might face if he continues to pick Maguire ahead of EURO 2024. He said:
“Gareth Southgate needs to be very careful picking players who aren’t playing because it sets a precedent for other players who may not be playing and knocking on his door, causing a bit of trouble for wanting to play. In Maguire’s case, he’s not playing regular football, so he’s not going to be match fit and match sharp, so to go into a big tournament without a regular run of games is very difficult to do.”
United took away Maguire’s captaincy during the summer as he failed to impress the manager with his performance. West Ham United attempted to sign the England international from the Red Devils for £30m during the summer.
However, the deal fell West Ham heard nothing from Maguire’s camp after the price agreement and then moved on.
The 30-year-old has featured in just four matches for the Red Devils out of 11 matches played in all competitions. Maguire has contributed to one assist while United won the two games in which he has started.
The Red Devils have lost six out of those 11 games so far with the visible vulnerabilities in the backline. Maguire spent four matches on the bench and didn’t make the squad for three games.
More Manchester United News-
- Manchester United forward Anthony Martial rejected the only realistic offer that came for the player during the summer transfer window.
- Manchester United defender Harry Maguire confesses that he is contemplating his future at the club.
- Former Chelsea player Glen Johnson believes Mason Mount is regretting his choice to join Manchester United.
We think it is very unlikely that Maguire will be able to retake his first-team status at United. Hypothetically, the 30-year-old can benefit more from leaving United and playing regularly to keep his place in England’s squad.
Whereas, the funds raised from his sale would help the Red Devils reinvest in the profile that Ten Hag demands. Speculating on how long Southgate can stick with Maguire in his current predicament remains the only option for now.
