Jermain Defoe received Instagram DM from Man Utd star and now shares what was privately said to him

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Jermain Defoe has revealed that Harry Maguire contacted him privately over social media and has now shared what the former Manchester United captain told him.

Harry Maguire endured a tough start to the season after he was stripped of the club captaincy last summer and fell down the pecking order under the Erik ten Hag.

The Manchester United defender was criticised over his form earlier this season and England boss Gareth Southgate had to staunchly defend his selection of Maguire.

However, Maguire saw a remarkable turnaround in form at Old Trafford and re-established himself as one of Ten Hag’s first-choice centre-back picks.

The England international was sidelined due to injury after he was pulled off in United’s 1-0 Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich in December 2023.

Maguire has missed United’s last five Premier League matches, but the United centre-back made his return in a brief cameo appearance against Newport County.

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Defoe shares Maguire’s message to him

Erik ten Hag previously confirmed that Harry Maguire had returned to training and the United star was subbed on in the 4-2 win over Newport County in the FA Cup.

The Manchester United boss will welcome the return of Maguire from injury, with Lisandro Martinez also returning this month and providing Ten Hag with a major boost.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live’s The Players Channel, Jermain Defoe said Maguire sent him a wholesome message after his kind words during an England match.

“Harry Maguire actually messaged me, thanking me because again I did an England game,” he said on Defoe & Deeney Football Firsts: Punditry.

“I think I said something like, ‘The last few tournaments he’s been one of my better players.’

“And he messaged me on Instagram basically just saying, ‘Thanks a lot, appreciate it, I heard some of the things you said on the tele.’ I was like, ‘Wow!’”

Maguire returns at right time for United

United are out of the Carabao Cup and the Champions League, but Ten Hag will be eager for his men to make substantial progress in the FA Cup this season.

Maguire’s return to United has come at the right time, with the Red Devils reaching the fifth round of the FA Cup and pushing for a top-four Premier League finish.

The 30-year-old England defender impressed prior to his injury and struck up a solid partnership with Jonny Evans when Ten Hag needed them both.

All eyes will be on how Maguire performs after his return from injury, but the ex-United captain will be keen to re-establish himself in the starting XI under Ten Hag.

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