Neil Lennon has raised concerns regarding Harry Maguire’s continued selection by England manager Gareth Southgate, suggesting that Maguire may be seen as Southgate’s preferred choice.
Maguire, 30, faced criticism for his performance in England’s recent 1-1 draw against Ukraine. During the match, he failed to prevent Oleksandr Zinchenko from scoring, raising questions about his form.
Maguire’s selection for England has sparked controversy due to his limited playing time at Manchester United. He has yet to start a Premier League game this season and lost the captaincy at United during the summer.
Despite this, Southgate continues to include him in the squad, leaving other capable defenders like Levi Colwill, Fikayo Tomori, and Lewis Dunk on the bench, while Arsenal’s Ben White was omitted entirely.
Lennon argues that if Southgate persists in choosing Maguire without consistent club-level play, the situation could deteriorate. He points out players like Tomori, who have had success in top European leagues, emphasizing the importance of regular playing time for Maguire’s development.
Furthermore, Lennon highlights the scrutiny Maguire faces as Southgate’s apparent favorite, suggesting that mistakes on the pitch could amplify criticism.
He expresses concern about Maguire’s diminishing game time at Manchester United and believes that, for the sake of his career, Maguire should seek opportunities to play regular first-team football at a high level.
Neil Lennon’s remarks shed light on the ongoing debate surrounding Harry Maguire’s selection for the England squad, emphasizing the importance of consistent club-level performance and raising questions about his inclusion in the national team.
