Harry Maguire keeps a clean sheet and the attention goes quiet

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Harry Maguire has had a difficult start to the season. After his red card for England, it seemed the centre-back may need a break.

Maguire proved a point instantly as he helped United to a win over Newcastle, even scoring a goal.

But then he dropped out of the side against PSG, Axel Tuanzebe came in and looked like the team’s defensive saviour.

Maguire was back in the XI to face Chelsea at the weekend, and kept a clean sheet in a drab 0-0 draw.

And then… silence. Barely will you hear a word said to Maguire’s credit.

All you see in the media is attention placed on a routine tussle inside a penalty area in which Maguire could have given away a spot kick.

You see several of these incidents each game, yet because it is Maguire, it received the attention it did.

What about Maguire’s positive contribution towards a clean sheet, in his first home game after conceding six?

Well Maguire was so terrible against Spurs that perhaps it requires more than one good home performance for the club captain to truly deserve accolades.

But credit where it is due, the club captain responded well by putting in a big performance against Chelsea.

Maguire won five aerial duels, more than any player on the pitch.

He completed 89 per cent of his passes, blocking one shot, making one interception and making six clearances.

Chelsea played a defensive game, but any ambition they did have to try and snatch a goal was shut out by Maguire and defensive partner Victor Lindelof any time the Blues came close.

Maguire faces another big test this week when United host RB Leipzig in the Champions League.

If he helps United keep another clean sheet against the strong German visitors, perhaps Maguire will get a small bit of credit.

But more likely there will be silence, with media attention switching focus, waiting for when Maguire does make an error to rip into him again.

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