Steve Bruce has defended Harry Maguire’s recent form and insists the Manchester United defender would ‘walk into most Premier League teams’.
Maguire was handed his first start of the season in Manchester United’s opening Carabao Cup match against Crystal Palace on Tuesday evening as Erik ten Hag looks to give the England international an opportunity to fight for more minutes.
Struggling performances have seen Maguire fall down the pecking order at Old Trafford, but ex-United centre-back, Bruce, believes Maguire is good enough to be a mainstay in most Premier League sides.
‘It’s good to see him on the pitch as he hasn’t started, he has only really started for England and played very well,’ Bruce said on Sky Sports.
‘It’s really difficult situation for him because this criticism is coming from where? I can’t see it from the stands, not sure where it escalates but maybe social media.
Harry Maguire has been handed his first start of the season for Man United in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup encounter
Steve Bruce (pictured) claimed Maguire would ‘walk into most Premier League teams’
Maguire has dropped down the pecking order at Manchester United amid a dip in form
‘This is a great opportunity and lets not forget he is a very good player who would probably walk into most premier league teams,’ he added.
Maguire was one of the United outcasts expected to leave the club during the summer before talks with West Ham failed to lead to a deal being completed.
The 30-year-old was also stripped of the United captaincy during the off-season as Ten Hag opted to give the armband to Bruno Fernandes due to Maguire’s role within the team becoming less significant.
He endured a difficult substitute outing in United’s 3-1 defeat against Arsenal prior to the international break before being mocked by Scotland supporters after scoring an own-goal in England’s friendly victory north of the border.
Bruce, most recently manager of West Brom, further explained criticism of Maguire wasn’t coming from United supporters and insisted he has ‘never’ let the club down despite making a series of high-profile mistakes in previous matches.
The 30-year-old (left) has been subjected to rare substitute appearances at United this season
United boss Erik ten Hag insisted Maguire doesn’t have to ‘prove’ anything to him,
‘It’s very rare fans here get on top of anybody’s back, they never single out an individual, I don’t think [criticism] it generates from stadium, maybe social media is the key to it all.
‘He [Maguire] has never let anybody down, I don’t think he has let Man United down, of course he has made a few mistakes and the odd own goal, he has made mistakes, he is a centre-back but over the years has proved to be a very good player,’ added Bruce.
United manager Erik ten Hag also expressed his support for Maguire pre-match and claimed the defender doesn’t have to ‘prove’ himself.
‘He [Maguire] doesn’t have to prove particularly to me as I know he is a very good centre-half but of course United also you have to lift certain standards and prove yourself every day, win every day and contribute to that win.’
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