Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has proven Jamie Carragher wrong with his performances for England during the World Cup, after the former Liverpool man claimed "it was too late" for the club captain to save his career.
Maguire had a game to forget at Wembley back in September. England played out a thrilling 3-3 draw with Germany in the UEFA Nations League that saw all six goals scored inside the final 40 minutes of the match.
The United defender made the headlines for all the wrong reasons that night, as he was at fault for Germany's opening goal. Maguire not only gave the ball away in the build-up, but then committed a foul on Jamal Musiala inside England's box to concede a penalty, which Ilkay Gundogan calmly dispatched past Nick Pope.
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Much of the focus after the game was on another disappointing night for Maguire, who had attempted to use the international break to get out of his poor run of form at United.
Carragher then took aim at not only Maguire's performance , but also the crossroads that the defender has come to in his career. The former Liverpool player discussed his own lows as a footballer, and how he would take no prisoners in training with a particular rage when he went through similar phases to the United captain.
He wrote in his Daily Telegraph column : "My question to Maguire is this: do you have that same fury in you? Too often, it looks as if the weight of the world is on his shoulders, like he is a startled bunny more than the authoritative centre-back he was.
"I think it is too late at club level. I wrote last year he was fighting for his Manchester United career. He needs this to be his final season at Old Trafford and start afresh. Now it is England’s problem. When I watched Maguire in the last two games, I felt sorry for him. But that is not a good look for any sportsperson. Sympathy will not get him back where he was two years ago."
Despite his woes at club level, Maguire has shone for England at the World Cup. The United skipper was superb against Iran, and despite the disappointing result, he was arguably England's best player during the 0-0 draw with the United States.
The former Leicester man was dominant in the air and ensured the Three Lions kept a clean sheet as the USA side looked to force a way through. There is no doubting that Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane have cemented their place in Erik ten Hag's starting XI, yet Maguire would have more than reminded the Dutchman what he is capable of.
Even if he may not find himself in United's first team off the back of this tournament, he has certainly shown Carragher that it is far from it being "too late" for him.
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