PATRICE EVRA begged “true Manchester United fans” to give Harry Maguire a chance this season.
The Red Devils skipper, 29, has endured another rough spell with form and fitness issues.
He played the full 90 minutes of the defeats to Brighton and Brentford before being dropped to the bench.
The £85million centre-back then picked up a hamstring injury on international duty with England, forcing him out of seven matches.
Maguire returned to action as a half-time substitute against Sheriff on Thursday.
And ex-United left-back Evra wants supporters to get behind him rather than jump on his back with further pressure.
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The Frenchman said: “It’s a massive opportunity for Harry Maguire. The team is doing well, and I think because of that his integration will be easier.
“I don’t know if Erik ten Hag will give him back the armband because that doesn’t help Harry.
“When the fans and other people see him with the armband things are already negative.
“I’ve talked to Harry, and told him to not give up and that he has to get his confidence back.
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“This is the perfect opportunity for him to show us the player he is.
“For me, it was disgusting to see some English fans booing him. He had an amazing Euros and every time he plays for England he’s at his highest level. This nonsense has to stop.
“Now, if you are a true United fan, I’m begging you to give the man a chance and support him.”
Maguire could be thrown in from the start against West Ham on Sunday – especially with Raphael Varane ruled out until the World Cup with injury.
But the legendary former defender – who won five Premier League titles at Old Trafford – knows the ex-Leicester man is running out of chances with United.
And he fears another calamitous error – similar to his one for England against Germany last month – could prove terminal for his Red Devils and even Three Lions careers.
If Maguire plays and United start losing and conceding goals, Ten Hag won’t play him
Patrice Evra
Evra added to Betfair: “Harry can’t fail. If he fails this opportunity I think he will have to leave the club.
“But I know he can do it and he’s going to have the full support of the manager and the players.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen, the manager might play Victor Lindelof instead, but even if that is the case, Harry shouldn’t give up, he should wait for his moment, it will come and when it does he needs to show us the player he is.
“He’s had a lot of time to think and I don’t think anyone is happy when he’s on the bench. He must be angry inside, and now he needs to use that anger when he gets the opportunity to play.
“Gareth Southgate trusts Harry Maguire, but you need to play. There’s only one week between the Premier League finishing and the World Cup starting, so, if I’m a national manager I will be looking at how many minutes players have had in their legs.
“When I asked Ten Hag about the competition between Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw, he told me that they both play for their country, and he has to look at that.
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“I think Ten Hag is a clever manager and he will give time to Maguire, but when he does the result has to be there.
“If Maguire plays and United start losing and conceding goals, he won’t play him.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
