Former Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has insisted that he is not worried about game time at Old Trafford despite turning down a move away from the club over the summer, after being told by Gareth Southgate that only regular football would see him land a spot in next summers squad for the European Championships.
Maguire, who is yet to start for the Red Devils this season, played all of England’s EURO2024 qualifying draw with Ukraine in Poland, before coming on at half-time during the 3-1 win over Scotland.
However, his every touch in the second half was cheered by the Scottish fans and he has become something of a comic figure, only further compounded by his own goal which let the home side back into the game.
Speaking after the win, Maguire labeled it ‘banter’ and insisted that it wasn’t affecting him.
“It is a little bit of banter and it is a hostile environment, coming away to Scotland”, he explained.
“We knew coming here, when you hear the national anthem and the way they disrespect that, we knew it would be hostile and in the second half I got most of it.
“It pretty much takes the pressure away from my team-mates and puts it all on myself,” Maguire said.
“It makes them play better, for sure.”
Attention then turned to club matters, where the arrival of Jonny Evans on a short-term contract may have pushed the England centre-back even further down Erik ten Hag’s pecking order.
Maguire turned down the option to leave the club for West Ham over the summer, but believes the chances will come at Old Trafford.
“At club football, I want to play games, I want to play football.”
“I can deal with criticism. The first four weeks were hard because it was one game a week and the manager didn’t select me but we have lots of games coming up now”.
“I am sure I will play lots of games” he added.
The 30-year-old made just 16 Premier League appearances last season, and has appeared just once from the substitutes bench in four attempts so far this campaign but could be handed his chance amid injury concerns for fellow defender Lisandro Martinez.
