"I stand with Maguire regardless" - Gareth Southgate

Gareth Southgate is willing to risk his personal reputation at the altar of his unwavering support for Harry Maguire. (Photo credit: @FA) Th...

Gareth Southgate is willing to risk his personal reputation at the altar of his unwavering support for Harry Maguire. (Photo credit: @FA)

The best of leaders live and die by their decisions; and for England boss Gareth Southgate, his stand on out of favor defender Harry Maguire may be his masterstroke or his ultimate undoing.

Harry Maguire has not started a league game for Manchester United since the 4-0 annihilation in the hands of Brentford in the second league game of the season and in that time, the club has won all league games played including a 3-1 success over league leaders Arsenal.

Maguire was involved in the Europa League loss to Real Sociedad and his part in the game left too much to be desired; however, Southgate has thrown his weight behind the troubled defender but with a caveat that he has to work on his club form.

Maguire was part of the England squad that finished fourth at the 2018 World Cup and helped the 3Lions to a second placed finish at the 2020 Euros; club form plays major part in team selection but Southgate has decided to hand Maguire his wildcard.

"Clearly, it's not an ideal situation [with Maguire.] We're only a few weeks on from preseason so, physically, if they've had a few 90 minutes, that's fine," Southgate told reporters ahead of England's Nations League clash against Italy.

 

"Another seven to eight weeks, that does start to become more complicated. But he is an important player for us and it's important to back our best players. Whatever reputation I have, I'm putting it on there."

England will play Italy on Friday night with a big risk of a potential relegation from their UEFA Nations League group following two back-to-back shock losses to Hungary. England will under pressure and a figure like Maguire is one to watch.