‘Fuming’ Harry Maguire may be frozen out of Man United XI after unprecedented reveal – pundit
Harry Maguire will only get back in the Man United starting XI if there is an injury to Raphael Varane or Lisandro Martinez, according to Alex McLeish.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Aston Villa and Scotland manager claimed Maguire will be “fuming” with his form at the moment.
The 28-year-old has not started a Premier League game since Man United’s 4-0 defeat to Brentford last month (13 August).
He gave away a penalty in England’s 3-3 draw with Germany on Monday (26 September) and has come under intense scrutiny.
Luke Shaw told the BBC after the game that his club and international teammate was taking more criticism than he had ever seen before in football.
“Harry, for me, I like him as a player,” McLeish told Football Insider correspondent Ben Wild.
“It’s just the way the modern day is, you’ve got to try and take it in your stride.
“Harry’s come in for a bit of criticism, there’s been one or two errors during international week.
“I don’t think that he’s going to be playing in the Man United team anytime soon, unless there’s injury problems. I think Erik ten Hag will keep it the way it’s been going.
“He’ll be fuming, he’ll be hurting inside. I know what it feels like myself when I lost my confidence at Aberdeen under Sir Alex and he dropped me once.
“You think it’s the end of the world. You are really honest and have sleepless nights thinking ‘How do I get my form back?’
“Harry is a good passer of the ball, a modern-day centre-back but everything he’s trying to attempt at the moment is going wrong for him.
“I think he can make a comeback. Unfortunately, social media is vitriolic and horrific.
“We didn’t have it in my day, it was only the press who gave you a bad write-up, or three out of 10. I was devastated with that stuff.
“I can’t imagine it nowadays with social media. I got a wee bit in management but it’s better not to ready that stuff but concentrate on your strengths as a footballer.”
In other news, Man United have set their sights on signing an Aston Villa star and £45million will seal the deal.