Manchester United's English defender Harry Maguire reacts as he warms up prior to the English Premier League football match between Crystal Palace and Manchester United at Selhurst Park in south London on January 18, 2023. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Harry Maguire’s future at Manchester United is increasingly uncertain amid the 29-year-old’s difficulties in breaking into the side under Erik ten Hag.
Maguire started the first two games of the season but was quickly dropped as Erik ten Hag started to blood the partnership of Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez.
Varane and Martine have formed a seemingly unbreakable bond at the heart of United’s defence and Maguire has dropped down the pecking order further following the emergence of Luke Shaw as centre-back cover.
Speaking ahead of United’s FA Cup fourth-round tie against, Ten Hag was quizzed on Maguire’s chances of reclaiming his place in the side and the Dutchman insisted his captain is still capable of fighting for his place.
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“Harry Maguire? He’s not our fifth choice,” Ten Hag said, according to The Sun. “Harry has to fight for his position and things can change – sometimes also really quickly. I think he is making progress and it’s up to him now.”
SN’s verdict…
Ten Hag may not publicly admit that Maguire is his fifth-choice centre-back but from a supporter’s perspective, it certainly looks like it.
Varane and Martinez are some of the first names on the teamsheet and recently, both Shaw and Victor Lindelof have been selected ahead of Maguire.
Maguire was linked with a move to West Ham but letting your captain go mid-season could be turbulent and Ten Hag has no intention of letting that happen.
