GARETH SOUTHGATE delivered a World Cup warning to defender Harry Maguire after his Germany nightmare.
The England manager, set to name his 26-man squad for Qatar on November 10, made it clear he needs under-fire Maguire to get his confidence back and play more games for Manchester United.
Southgate continues to back centre-half Maguire — who picked up a thigh injury in a nightmare game against Germany on Monday — but is concerned about his lack of game time for United.
Crocked Maguire could now be unavailable for a couple more United games and the national boss said: “I know everybody says Harry is important to me but he’s important to us. It’s us — it’s not me.
“Why do we pick him? Because he’s one of the players who gives us the best chance of winning.
“So really, we should all be wanting a Harry Maguire that’s playing regularly and playing with confidence.
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“That applies to, of course, quite a few players but he’s the one that everything lands on, which must be a tough space for him really. But he’s showing tremendous character.
“I think he has got the character to get over this because he’s a boy that has been from Sheffield United to Hull City. He’s not one where everything has been smooth.
“Sometimes you get lads who, in the early part of their career, haven’t had to handle adversity and when it hits them, it’s harder to cope with.
“He’s like most of us really, in that he’s had lots of hurdles — and that shapes your character.”
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England’s former right-back and assistant coach Gary Neville has told Maguire, 29, that he should see a psychologist to revive his career — just like he did.
The Manchester United legend told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I’ve been there myself.
“I gave away two really bad goals against Vasco da Gama in a World Club Championships in 2000, then six months later went on to have a horrible Euros tournament for England in Belgium and Holland.
“My pain lasted for about eight months in football terms. I was poor, lost my confidence, didn’t want the ball and didn’t show for things.
“I know everybody says Harry is important to me but he’s important to us. It’s us — it’s not me.
Southgate on Maguire
“When I lost my confidence, I went and saw a psychologist to help me through those moments.
“I did go and see my doctor at Manchester United. I did go and get a psychologist and get help. You do need external help at times.
“Harry is going through a difficult moment. I felt for him. But he’s a good, solid character, he’s got a good family and people around him at Manchester United who will try and help him.
“It’s a tough period for Harry, there’s no getting away from that. But there’s nothing you can do other than show up, try your best and not give in.
“At some point, his form will return because he has been an excellent player for United at times and England. He has to go to the World Cup.
“England haven’t got a massive pool of centre-backs for a start. Harry’s done very well for England and Gareth Southgate.”
Luke Shaw, Maguire’s team-mate for club and country, says he has never witnessed one player suffer so much abuse.
Come on, everyone knows that Harry is an unbelievable player.
Luke Shaw
He said: “It is a tough period at the moment. Harry is an amazing player, an amazing character.
“He has taken a lot of stick, probably more than I have ever seen before in football. But he never hides away, he is always there.
“You can have people that hide away and not want to be in the spotlight. But he keeps putting himself in the spotlight and it shows the strength and character he has got because, come on, everyone knows that he is an unbelievable player.
“At the moment, the confidence might not be there because it might feel like the whole world is against him.
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“It is tough for him but us as players, staff, we are all behind him because he is a very important player and it shows Gareth’s trust that he has played in both games.
“Look at the Euros and what he has done… people need to understand he is a big part of the England team and they have to accept it.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
