Michael Carrick handed Harry Maguire a start against Manchester City in the Premier League and the centre-back helped keep Erling Haaland quiet
Harry Maguire’s Manchester derby recall caught the eye(Image: Getty Images)
Former Manchester United captain Harry Maguire was welcomed back into the starting XI by Michael Carrick for last weekend’s derby. The England international impressed, as did all of his team-mates, as Carrick inspired the team to an impressive 2-0 win at Old Trafford.
It was the 32-year-old’s first start since November after a thigh injury kept him out of action for the final few weeks of Ruben Amorim’s tenure. He looked like he’d never been away, smashing a trademark header against the crossbar and putting in the hard yards defensively.
While it might have just been one game, the display has prompted former England centre-back John Terry to back Maguire for an international recall. However, pundit and former Liverpool defender Phil Thompson has a different view.
“Man United is such a better team with Harry Maguire in the squad today, back playing,” Terry said after the derby. “I’m not sure there’s a more difficult game to come into. A Manchester derby playing against the best striker in the world in [Erling] Haaland.
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“He’s just so good in both boxes and so good on the ball as well. Saw him drive out with the ball and was so comfortable with it. In this form, Harry Maguire has to be on the plane for the World Cup.”
Terry’s comments were raised on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, where Thompson was a guest. However, the former Soccer Saturday regular was less convinced.
“I love Harry Maguire, he is always committed, he’s a very, very good professional,” Thompson said. “But… Man City have most possession in a game, so what you do, you defend the edge of your own box. Harry loves that, he loves the challenge and he loves to defend.
“What does Harry not like doing? He doesn’t like running back. He’s got no pace, he knows that and understands that. That was playing to his strengths with Man City having the ball.
Phil Thompson isn’t convinced Harry Maguire should get an England recall(Image: Getty Images)
“Playing for England, you’ve got to adapt a little bit but you have to push up. Particularly in the opening games you’re going to have most of the ball, you’ve got to play a high line, you do not want to get caught out. Harry’s been a great servant for Manchester United and for England but I just can’t see that.”
Maguire has won 64 senior caps for England, playing in every single match at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. He missed Euro 2024 after failing to fully recover from injury in time for the tournament, though, and hasn’t featured at all under Thomas Tuchel.
An instant recall at club level was a calculated gamble for Carrick, though, with the interim boss reflecting on the situation when he spoke to BBC Match of the Day. “We were going into the game, and he’s literally trained two days out of 45 or so, so it was a big ask,” Carrick said.
“He came on the other day for a short period of time (against Brighton in the FA Cup) but again hasn’t really trained a whole lot so we’ve got to manage him. It shows again how much it means to the boys to play, and the boys were going down with all sorts. He got through it he managed him well. He was a big presence at the back for us. he showed that immense experience.”
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