Harry Maguire deserves England call-up despite lack of Manchester United game time, says Paul Scholes
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Updated 16/03/2023 at 20:58 GMT
Harry Maguire deserves his place in Gareth Southgate's most recent England squad despite struggling for game time at Manchester United, according to Paul Scholes. Maguire was named in the England squad for the upcoming games against Italy and Ukraine, but has had limited chances under Erik ten Hag this season. Maguire did however start in United's Europa League win over Real Betis on Thursday.
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Harry Maguire’s reliability for England means he deserves a place in Gareth Southgate’s squad despite struggling for game time at Manchester United, says Paul Scholes.
The United club captain started in Thursday’s 1-0 Europa League win over Real Betis, but has made just five Premier League starts all season under Erik ten Hag.
He was nevertheless called up to Southgate’s squad for the start of England’s Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, and Scholes defended the decision of the Three Lions boss to pick Maguire ahead of players in better form.
“I know Gareth has made a point of saying players need to be playing, but that can’t always happen,” Scholes told BT Sport.
“I think Harry Maguire has been really good for him over the last couple of years. He’s been reliable, and sometimes you just go with what you know.
“Harry’s in a difficult position, not playing games, we know that. But I think his attitude, saying it doesn’t matter if I’m not playing, it’s my job to make the club as successful as it can be, I think Gareth sees that in the England situation as well.
“He plays all the time for England and it’s a good thing. It’s good for Man United as well because he’ll go away and get a couple of games and hopefully that will bode well for the future for United.”
Maguire put in a strong performance as United kept a clean sheet in Seville to record a 5-1 aggregate win and progress to the Europa League quarter-finals.
The 30-year-old was asked about his lack of game time after the match, after a season where Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane have been Ten Hag’s preferred defensive partnership.
"Listen, I work hard at training and that's all you can do,” Maguire said to BT Sport.
“It's not been too long since my last game, it was only a couple of weeks ago. And I've started five or six games since the World Cup.
"Obviously I want to play more and start more but I'm doing my part on and off the field. I have an important role at this club and every day I try and make this club succeed whether I'm playing or not."
Maguire has won 53 caps for England and started every game during their run to the quarter-finals at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Southgate’s side open their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with a trip to European champions Italy on 23 March, before hosting Ukraine three days later at Wembley.
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