When Manchester United appeared to be encouraging offers for two men last summer, few would have imagined that a pair who seem to have no future under Erik ten Hag would be end up playing such a vital role during the following campaign.
Only Bruno Fernandes and Rasmus Hojlund have scored more goals (nine) than Scott McTominay. Where would Erik ten Hag be, right now, without the midfielder’s fashionably late contributions against Brentford, Chelsea and Aston Villa?
McTominay was a target for West Ham last summer. So too was Harry Maguire. In fact, Hammers boss David Moyes even admitted back in August that the Londoners had seen a £30 million bid accepted for the England international.
Maguire might not have provided quite so many headline-grabbing moments as McTominay throughout 2023/24 but there is an argument that he has been Manchester United’s most consistent performer at centre-half in recent months.
Erik ten Hag full of praise for Harry Maguire
Maguire was quietly excellent again during the 2-2 draw with Liverpool last time out. And while his long-term future remains uncertain – United are expected to pursue a substantial overhaul of their defensive options under Ineos – Ten Hag is just glad to have Maguire at his disposal in the here and now.
“You have to see it in that perspective. We were always happy with Harry Maguire but he wants to play,” Ten Hag tells the Manchester Evening News when asked about the prospect of the 30-year-old leaving this summer.
“He’s a great leader. He’s a very good defender. Very comfortable on the ball. When I count all of those abilities, just now when we are on our defending line (and) we have our problems, he is even more important to lead that line, to make us play from the back.
“So, we are very pleased he is there. And we need him to get our results and achieve our targets.”
With Jonny Evans, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelof and Raphael Varane (again) all injured, Maguire is likely to partner the teenage Willy Kambwala at the heart of Ten Hag’s backline away to Bournemouth on Saturday night.
The duo dovetailed impressively against Liverpool, Maguire’s experience helping guide 19-year-old Kambwala through the game on only his second Premier League start.
Hailed by Red Devils legend
Steve Bruce, the former Man United captain, could hardly be more glowing in his praise for a man who – unlike a certain £73 million forward – got his head down, stuck his chest out, and succeeded in kick-starting a Man United career which had looked dead in the water.
“I felt it had been a little bit harsh the treatment he has had. I thought he had been made a little bit of a scapegoat,” Steve Bruce, who would have been proud of the way Maguire slammed the door on Liverpool’s often-rampant frontline when coming off the bench on Sunday, tells talkSPORT (19 March, 9am).
“I’m always going to defend him because I know him well. I know him personally. And the kid wants to do well. He is resilient to see it through which you need at the level he is playing.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he is playing for England at the Euros because Gareth (Southgate) trusts him. And have we got anybody better?”