Pranav Nair
Gareth Southgate praises Manchester United outcast Harry Maguire after England beat Italy
Harry Maguire might have fallen out of favour at Manchester United but he remains a key player for the England setup under Gareth Southgate. In fact, the Three Lions boss has continued to show renewed faith in the 30-year-old.
The veteran defender played the entirety of England’s UEFA 2024 Qualifier against reigning champions Italy last night. In a repeat of last edition’s showpiece event, the Three Lions garnered a revenge of sorts for their heartbreaking defeat at Wembley in 2021.
Maguire led a stellar rearguard effort that helped the home side keep the Azzurri attack at bay. It will act as a motivator for the Red Devils ace who is keen to get his career at the club level back on track.
Speaking to Channel 4 (h/t Sky Sports) after the game, Southgate heaped praise on the veteran defender for the important role he played on the night. Maguire, to his credit, certainly proved his detractors wrong last night.
“Kalvin [Phillips] and Harry [Maguire] were both outstanding tonight. They are both important for us.”
The 30-year-old lost the Manchester United armband earlier in the summer but opted against leaving Old Trafford for West Ham United, despite the Red Devils having agreed to a transfer bid.
Given Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez’s injury concerns, Maguire is currently in a position where he can stake a claim to a future at Old Trafford. The English ace is a confidence player and an upsurge in confidence heading into this weekend’s clash against Sheffield United on Saturday night.
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With the Euros coming up, Maguire continues to impress Southgate and is more or less likely to retain his spot in the Three Lions squad for the tournament. England fans will hope that Maguire gets a good run of games in the coming few months at the club level, helping keep his confidence intact heading into the summer.
