Former England manager Sam Allardyce says Harry Maguire should be in Manchester United’s starting XI.
Speaking to his new No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, Allardyce hit out at the high level of criticism received by Maguire.
Maguire has been out with an injury over the past month, but is now close to full fitness, returning to training this week.
But before his injury, Maguire was not part of Manchester United’s starting line-up, with Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez preferred. Victor Lindelof is also ahead of him at this point.
Allardyce believes while the over the top criticism is impacting Magurire, he wants to see him starting for club and country.
Criticism of Harry Maguire is ‘scandalous’, says Allardyce
Allardyce, who was in charge of England for 67 days in 2016, says he finds it ‘strange’ Maguire is not in Manchester United’s line-up.
He said: “This is scandalous what’s happening. This is out and out trying to destroy somebody. Everybody’s on his back.
“Nobody can withstand that sort of pressure and criticism which is being portrayed in every way shape or form, through the media, on the TV, through the press, through the radio, social media. It’s bound to effect Harry.
“What he’s done for England particularly I hope Gareth (Southgate) stays strong and sticks with him, because he deserves it.
“Not playing for Manchester United, I find rather strange that he’s not in the team. Why is he not in the team, what is he thinking [the manager]?
“Why is he playing some of the players that he’s bought over Harry Maguire. Is that why he’s playing them over Harry because he’s bought them? That’s what it looks like to me because they certainly don’t look any better than Harry Maguire to me.
“I’d like to see him playing for Manchester United again, because having watched the defending against Manchester City, they needed him. If he can’t get in the side when they are defending like that, I don’t know what’s going on there.”
Allardyce’s suggestion that new signing Lisandro Martinez doesn’t look any better than Maguire simply does not hold up.
Martinez has been excellent, and he has changed the entire dynamic of United’s defence, helping the back four becoming more aggressive, on the front foot, rather than too soft and reactionary.
The defeat to City was an aberration for United’s form without Maguire. The team have kept six clean sheets without Maguire in the side.
United have lost all three games Maguire has played, including a 4-0 defeat to Brentford. The decision to leave him out was right, and then injury has kept him sidelined.
The centre-back will get opportunities in the fortnight ahead, with United looking to replace the injured Raphael Varane, while a role in England’s World Cup squad and starting line-up is expected to be a certainty if he stays fit.
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