LIVERPOOL legend Jamie Carragher has urged Gareth Southgate to drop Harry Maguire from the England squad “for his own protection” ahead of Euro 2024.
Maguire, 30, was taunted by Scotland fans during Tuesday’s international friendly at Hampden Park.
He also received criticism from England supporters after scoring an own-goal in the 67th minute.
Southgate stepped in to defend the centre-back after the match, blasting the “ridiculous treatment” of him.
The England boss said: “I’ve never known a player treated the way he is. He’s been an absolute stalwart for us in the second most successful England team for decades – he’s been an absolutely key part of that.”
He later added: “From a Scotland fans’ point of view I get it. I have absolutely no complaints with what they did. But it’s a consequence of ridiculous treatment of him for a long period of time.
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“It’s a joke. Not by the Scottish fans but by our own commentators, pundits or whatever it is. They’ve created something that’s beyond anything I have ever seen.”
Many fans and pundits questioned Maguire’s place in the squad given his lack of game time at club level.
He has played just 23 minutes of Premier League football so far this season for Man Utd, with his only appearance coming against Arsenal just before the international break.
The defender has also come under fire at Old Trafford, with some fans now turning against him.
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And Carragher, who made over 500 Premier League appearances as a player and earned 38 senior England caps, believes the situation has become out of control.
In his column for The Telegraph, the Liverpool icon wrote: “For his own protection, Harry Maguire should not play for England until his career is back on track. Personally and professionally the current situation is unsustainable.
“There must be a frank and honest conversation with those closest to him about how to resolve a mess because this drama around him needs fixing.
“I was watching the England versus Scotland match with my son, James. It was painful to watch. ‘If that was you, I would want you out of the firing line. This has gone too far,’ I told him as Maguire endured a nightmare second half.
“My first thought after the game was that I really hope Maguire is okay. More than ever we are aware of mental health issues impacting on footballers, or anyone subjected to such unrelenting ridicule.
“I cannot recall any top level player enduring as much as Maguire over several years and struggling to find a meaningful response to it.
“I do not see how continually putting him on such a stage without regular, high class club football will help him get back to the level he was. This has to stop, first and foremost, for Maguire’s sake.”
Carragher also believes Maguire should have left Old Trafford this summer in a bid to reignite his form after falling out of favour with Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag.
The defender was linked with a move to West Ham, but talks broke down when the two parties failed to agree terms.
Ex-Liverpool star Carragher claims it will be “unfeasible” for Maguire to be selected for Euro 2024 if he refuses to leave the Red Devils.
He added: “He missed the opportunity to start landing a few punches when he turned down West Ham in the summer. David Moyes would have had the perfect manager in an ideal team for Maguire’s attributes. I am sure he would have been a success there.
“Too many transfers stall because a player feels mistreated and refuses to leave without a pay-off. Maguire had to think beyond that, especially when considering his international career.
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“It is unfeasible for a centre-back to go into the next Euros when they have not been a regular for their club for two years.”
Maguire joined Man Utd in a record-breaking £80million transfer from Leicester in 2019 and has since made 176 appearances.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
