Despite losing the captaincy and his place in Erik ten Hag’s starting XI at Manchester United, center back Harry Maguire has been in constant dialog with Gareth Southgate.
Three Lions gaffer Gareth Southgate has set up his own “support line” to Harry Maguire in the build-up to the World Cup and has made sure of being in touch regularly with Maguire throughout the latter’s problems at Old Trafford, even to the point of reassuring Maguire that he would happily let the United defender wear the armband if necessary as one of his trusted lieutenants on the pitch.
This clearly underlines Southgate’s commitment to, and unwavering faith in, Maguire and also suggests that he is in line to start England’s first game in Qatar against Iran next Monday. Maguire, 29, has started just one Premier League game in the last three months despite having fallen out of favor under new United boss Erik ten Hag.
With 48 caps under his belt, England defender Maguire played a huge role in the 2018 World Cup when they reached the semi final and last year’s Euros and suffered eventual heartbreak in the final.
That has contributed in no small way to earning Southgate’s unerring faith in Maguire as an integral part of his England team and his public backing of the defender, insisting that his squad has a better chance of winning the World Cup with the former United captain in the Three Lions line-up.
Maguire is already establishing himself as one of England’s most important players along with the likes of captain Harry Kane, Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling and they have been part of the leadership group and Southgate has made it clear to Maguire that he also values his qualities as a leader and would have no hesitation in giving him the armband if others were off the pitch.
Defence will most certainly be a key issue for England at the World Cup and it is clear that Southgate still regards Maguire as one of his lynchpins for Qatar.