From the Guardian:<\/p>\n
In a stunning move, Gareth Southgate named Manchester United captain Harry Maguire in his England squad for the Nations League ties against Iceland and Denmark early next month despite the defender\u2019s involvement in court proceedings in Greece.<\/p>\n
Maguire has been at the centre of a scandal since last Thursday night after he was arrested and later charged following a violent argument outside a bar in Mykonos, which also involved police officers. He has vigorously denied all charges.<\/p>\n
Maguire\u2019s trial got under way in Greece on Tuesday morning \u2013 he was not required to attend and was represented by his legal team \u2013 and Southgate had to reach a difficult decision over whether to include him for the games on 5 and 8 September.<\/p>\n
The manager has stood by him in a 24-man squad that also features first call-ups for Manchester City\u2019s Phil Foden, Maguire\u2019s Manchester United teammate Mason Greenwood and the Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips.<\/p>\n
On Maguire, Southgate said: \u201cIt is clearly a decision that is not straightforward and a decision that in the end I could only take on the information I have. I have spoken with Harry, I have the insight to the story which is very different to what is being reported. You can only make decisions on facts you are aware of.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf facts or information changes I will have to review that decision, but I have a fantastic relationship with the boy, he has been a fantastic character for us \u2026 it\u2019s important that he knows he has my support at this moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not going to get into hypotheticals of what might happen, but I have got to reserve the right to review if further information becomes available. You always make decisions to the best of your ability given the information you have. People may agree or disagree with those decisions, but it is a position where every manger finds himself.<\/p>\n
\u201cHarry regrets the fact he has brought that sort of focus and attention to the team – he apologised for that \u2013 but also has his own side of the story.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"