Harry Maguire MISSES training with England to ‘manage his workload’ after centre back stepped in to face Czech Republic, almost seven weeks on from his last full 90 minutes for Man United
Harry Maguire is not taking part in England’s team training on Thursday as staff manage the centre back’s workload following his absence.
The 28-year-old made his return from an ankle injury – which has kept him out for nearly seven weeks – against the Czech Republic on Tuesday, playing 90 minutes in a 1-0 win which saw Gareth Southgate’s men top Group D.
But on Thursday, in their first session since learning their last-16 opponents would be Germany at Wembley on Tuesday, Maguire was not present in the group session, instead training individually indoors for ‘load management.’
Harry Maguire is not taking part in England team training on Thursday to ‘mange his workload’
The centre back returned to action against the Czech Republic, playing a full 90 minutes
Maguire’s selection, alongside first-choice John Stones, is one of the points of contention ahead of the last-16 showdown against rivals Germany at Wembley on Tuesday.
If Maguire is not fully fit to start, Tyrone Mings is likely to be the defender chosen to play alongside Stones, having started the first two games against Croatia and Scotland.
Maguire came through the match on Tuesday unscathed and completed 90 minutes, with Raheem Sterling’s first-half header proving enough for a 1-0 victory that helped England finish top with seven points.
Yet the Manchester Untied captain admitted afterwards on Tuesday that his spell on the sidelines – in which he missed his club’s Europa League final defeat to Villarreal – was one of the toughest periods of his career.
He said: ‘I’ve been out of action for six and a half weeks now and it’s been tough.
‘It’s been tough to watch, I don’t like watching football matches so to be back on the pitch is something I love doing, and to be at Wembley in the first time for me playing in a European Championship, it’s a good feeling and it’s all the hard work that I’ve put in that I’ve been able to play 90 minutes.’
‘We’ve set out to win the group and we’ve done that. Seven points, three games. Can we play better? Of course we can. Will we improve? We’ll do everything we can.
‘Three clean sheets, been solid. The fundamentals are there and now we’ve got to tidy up in every part of our game.’
