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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Steven Railston

Manchester United defender has been told something he cannot ignore this summer

"He drinks the vodka, he drinks the Jäger, his head's f*****g massive," was the chant heard around Old Trafford earlier in the week.

There are no prizes for guessing who that cringeworthy England chant is about. Some Manchester United fans, particularly those who lack an affinity with England, scoff at the song, but Harry Maguire appreciates hearing it nonetheless.

Although Maguire's name is rarely sung when he plays for his club, he's regularly serenaded when playing for England and he remains a hugely popular player among the Three Lions' fans because of his brilliant displays for his country.

Regardless of his mixed form in the Premier League, Maguire has always delivered when playing for England. He needs a particular set of circumstances to perform and the demands of international football suit the way he plays.

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The pace of the international game always brings out the best in Maguire and he's comfortable with Gareth Southgate's tactics, whereas he's limited at club level, which is why Erik ten Hag signed Lisandro Martinez to replace him.

Martinez has been a resounding improvement on Maguire. He's one of the best centre-backs in the league and Maguire has consequently slipped down the pecking order, now finding himself considered as fifth choice.

The club captain made just eight league starts this season and, although he briefly rose ahead of Victor Lindelof after the World Cup as third in the centre-back pecking order, he ended the campaign watching from the bench, with Lindelof and even Luke Shaw ahead of him.

Maguire was culpable in the Sevilla debacle at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium and he didn't start again until the final day of the season, with Lindelof playing alongside Shaw for the last few important league matches instead.

To his credit, Shaw was genuinely exceptional playing in the centre of defence, but it's a damning indictment on Maguire that even a teammate who is naturally a left-back can be given preference over him.

If the 30-year-old somehow didn't know he needed a fresh start, that surely would have made him realise. Maguire could raise funds for the club to reinvest and for the player, more importantly, he could be successful at another team.

With the exception of his first two seasons, Maguire has struggled with the weight of the shirt but that doesn't mean he won't perform at a new club. He can be excellent in the right set up and he's still arguably in his prime.

Maguire was also given added motivation to push for a move this summer by Southgate at a recent press conference, as the England manager warned that his unweaving loyalty to his favourites is beginning to be tested.

"Harry is captain of an incredible football club, so that's a difficult situation," Southgate said. "He will obviously be frustrated not to play as much as he would like but I think he has handled that really well, he has publicly talked well about supporting the team.

“It is clear, really. I think Harry and Kalvin [Phillips] are the two who have played the least in terms of guys in this squad this season but we have gone with them because in these two positions we think they are still ahead of others that might have played more.

“But it is then hard when that competition gets more even and you are not playing regularly to see their form, see their fitness."

Maguire has benefited from a lack of challengers for his starting role for England, but that can't last forever and there are multiple centre-backs who are impressing in the Premier League week in and week out who want his place.

If he remains at United next season, starting him for England will become increasingly indefensible and that will give him food for thought. Maguire loves representing his country and it's doubtful that he will risk his starting role.

It was hard not to feel sorry for Maguire three weeks ago when he was put up for in-house media duties to reflect on a season that he's been a passenger in, but he could also become a bystander for England if his situation doesn't change.

It's likely his name has been sung at Old Trafford for the final time.

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