Harry Kane has thrown his support behind England team-mate Harry Maguire as the defender comes under renewed scrutiny.
Maguire has been one of Gareth Southgate’s most consistent selections in his England squad since taking charge of the national team, despite minutes having dried up at Manchester United of late.
Despite a lack of playing time, Maguire has been a central figure in each of England’s last three international tournament selections, reaching the final (Euro 2020), semi-final (2018 World Cup) and quarter-final (2022). WK).
Following his latest high-profile mistake – an own goal against Scotland after coming off the bench in a 3-1 win for the Three Lions – calls for Maguire to be left out of the squad have only grown.
As the England captain stood in front of the media ahead of Bayern Munich’s match with Man United in the Champions League, Kane was asked about the treatment of his international teammate and ‘friend’ Maguire.
England captain Harry Maguire offered his support to teammate Harry Maguire on Tuesday
The Manchester United defender’s place in the England squad has come under scrutiny
The former United captain has not seen any game time at Old Trafford since being stripped of the armband
“I think H has come under unnecessary criticism and probably been made a bit of a scapegoat because of the way the team has behaved recently,” the England captain said.
‘He’s a very good friend of mine.
“From an England perspective, he’s one of our best defenders in the history of our country in an England shirt… it’s part of football, but knowing him he just wants to try to improve himself.
‘We as a national team fully support him.’
Kane could face the controversial Maguire on Wednesday when the Red Devils travel to Bavaria for the Champions League group stages.
Kane himself came close to a move to Manchester United this summer before moving to the Bundesliga giants for £100million.
Mail Sport’s Manchester United Confidential revealed that the player was willing to join the Red Devils at the end of his contract with Tottenham next summer if he had received assurances about Premier League interest.
With his contract in North London set to expire in the summer of 2024, a move came this summer with Spurs ultimately realizing that losing such a player for free would be worse in the long run than parting ways with him sooner than necessary to take.
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