The Three Lions of England ended their season on a high as they saw off North Macedonia in style, defeating their opponents by 7 goals to Nill.
In what proved to be an impressive display against North Macedonia, England manager Gareth Southgate undoubtedly found solace in his team’s performance, considering the wearisome season that preceded it. However, Southgate’s discerning eye couldn’t overlook the varying degrees of freshness exhibited by his players, which was, in part, attributable to their differing involvement at the club level.
While a reduced workload may have its merits in certain regards, for Southgate, a lack of regular action proved to be a significant concern. Quoted in the Daily Mirror, Southgate shed light on the matter and hinted that Manchester United’s Harry Maguire, in particular, needs more consistent playing time to secure his place in England’s future plans.
As Southgate stated, “Harry is the captain of an exceptional football club, so it is indeed a challenging situation. Undoubtedly, he will feel frustrated by his limited minutes on the pitch. Nevertheless, I must commend him for his exemplary handling of the situation, particularly his public support for the team.”
“It is crystal clear,” Southgate emphasized. “Both Harry and Kalvin [Phillips] have featured the least among the players in this squad over the course of the season. However, we have chosen them because, in their respective positions, we believe they still hold an edge over other contenders who have seen more action. Yet, the challenge arises when the competition becomes tighter, and the lack of regular playing time hampers the assessment of their form and fitness.”
Regardless of the implications for his England future, Maguire now finds himself compelled to revive his club career away from the hallowed grounds of Old Trafford. It has become evident to all observers that Erik ten Hag, the current Manchester United manager, does not consider Maguire as one of his primary center-back options.
The urgency for Maguire to secure a move to a new club is twofold: to expedite his settling-in process and to reclaim the form that once characterized his performances, rather than the player who has seemingly struggled with confidence over the past year.