Harry Maguire might be dividing opinion ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but the Manchester United defender impressed Tottenham striker Harry Kane in England training recently.
You probably had to watch it a second and third time to believe it, but it wasn’t Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham or Jack Grealish doing a roulette skill in England training, the Maguire himself, which Kane described as ‘fantastic’, as the Spurs star told England’s Diary Room.
After running forward with the ball during a small-sided game, Maguire proceeded to pull out a roulette skill when a challenge came in, before facing up Conor Coady, turning him inside and out, not just once, but twice, before Nick Pope saved his shot in between the sticks.
Maguire’s confidence might be shot when out on the pitch for Manchester United or England in recent times, but he’s still singing and dancing in training.
The only crying shame is that he didn’t put the ball in the back of the net, which was acknowledged by Kane himself, as he reacted to footage of Maguire’s skill.
“We have got Harry Maguire’s run,” said Kane. “I saw it live, but I am going to have another look just to see if I missed anything and see how good it really was.
“It’s a fantastic, fantastic run. Fantastic skill. I would have loved to have seen the back of the net ripple. That’s all I am going to say.
“H (Harry), very good, but, you just missed the final (part) to get that maybe a few extra thousand likes on social media if it hit the back of the net, (but) unfortunately, Popey made a good save. He has a big smile on his face after. He’s loving life.
“Fair play, I like to see my defender’s come out with the ball and he did a great job of that.”
MAGUIRE TO START AGAINST IRAN?
England’s opening game against Iran is around the corner and Gareth Southgate has some big decisions to make, including who starts in defence.
Does he put out a back three or a flat back four? Either way, Maguire’s selection will be a big talking point.
Some felt that Maguire shouldn’t have been selected in the 26-man squad given his form, but at the end of the day, Southgate has to start him now he is out there in Qatar, or else he’s a waste of selection.
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