England manager Gareth Southgate has admitted he can’t “guarantee” call-ups for any player amid Harry Maguire’s United conundrum.
Maguire started just eight Premier League games for United last season after losing his starting spot to Lisandro Martinez. The former Leicester star still made it into Southgate’s World Cup squad, though, and started every game as the Three Lions reached the quarter-finals. However, there are question marks over whether he will be treated the same at Euro 2024.
The 30-year-old has lost the United captaincy to Bruno Fernandes as club boss Erik ten Hag continues to freshen up his squad. This has prompted interest from West Ham, with the Maguire – who has two years left on his current deal – forced to decide what comes next.
“We’re not in a world where we’re cuddling,” Southgate said. “We’re in the tough world of professional football. He’s got two World Cup winners in the team ahead of him. [Raphael] Varane and [Lisandro] Martinez are top level players. When you’re at the big clubs you’re always going to be challenged. They’re going to sign players every summer. You’ve got to compete for your position and you’ve got to take that battle on”.
“If you’re Manchester United you want good backup as well. You’re going to get injuries, they’ve got Champions League football as well as trying to push for the Premier League.”
“I’m sure they will be comfortable about Harry staying as back-up or being in the team. However that fight ends up,” the England boss continued.
“If he’s not in the team he’s got a decision to make as to whether he can go and play regular football somewhere else. Put England aside, the start point for any player is are they fulfilled in their job. Most players want to play every week”.
Southgate was then asked more directly about whether Maguire would get minutes at international level if he remains sidelined by his club. England already have one foot in next summer’s Euros, with Maguire playing a part in a run of qualifying victories.
“It depends on how other players at other clubs are doing,” Southgate said. “I can never guarantee a player we’re going to pick them. It’s [Maguire and John Stones] a partnership that’s worked brilliantly for us, so we recognise that, but there’s always new challenges coming through. There are some good young centre backs coming through who are slowly picking up experience. That is going to be the challenge going forward.”
England’s next international fixtures will come in September, at which point Southgate will have a decision to make on his centre-back choices. After picking up maximum points in the first four games, victory in Ukraine on September 9 would all but seal the Three Lions’ qualification for Euro 2024.