Southgate says he did not consider dropping Maguire from England squad

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England manager Gareth Southgate has explained his decision to call Harry Maguire into his latest squad despite his poor recent form.

Maguire has had a poor season for Manchester United and there is a genuine case for dropping the defender out of the side.

He looked nervous in Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid but Southgate has underlined his faith in Maguire ahead of the games with Switzerland and the Ivory Coast.

Southgate told the press conference which accompanied the announcement of his squad that he did not ever consider dropping Maguire for these friendly matches.

“I don’t think it ever crossed our minds not to select Harry Maguire for this squad,” said Southgate.

“He’s been a key part of the starting eleven which got us to a World Cup semi-final and a European Championship final.

“I know the club are going through a difficult period but you’ve got to look at who are our best players and who are the core of the team and he is in that group.

“There is no doubt in my mind that he is one of our best centre backs and in that sense, form is temporary. I will always be accused of double standards on picking and form but there are nuances to that.

“Harry is now over 40 caps, consistently strong performer for us and was through the autumn as well and hopefully he can continue that vein of form he has had with us over a long period of time.”

Maguire has had a poor season for United but for England, he seems like a different player and from that point of view, it is no surprise that Southgate has kept the faith with him.

Southgate called him up after his off-field issues in Greece last summer and picked him for Euro 2020 despite injury keeping him out of the first two matches.

Supporters are quite reactionary with the England squad in terms of wanting whoever is playing the best right now to be in there.

But Southgate has made the point about England form and players who have been good for him and the country over an extended period of time.

Maguire falls into that category and perhaps the best that can be hoped for from a United perspective is that the time away can get him some confidence back.