Harry Maguire deserves credit score for a way he has dealt with himself throughout his struggles at Manchester United, based on former Red Devils coach Mike Phelan. But Phelan has admitted that Maguire nonetheless possesses weaknesses current after they labored collectively at Hull City virtually a decade in the past.

The 30-year-old defender joined United in an £80million deal in 2019 when Phelan was serving as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's assistant after returning to Old Trafford.

Maguire loved a robust begin to life in M16 and was made membership captain only one yr into his keep.

But his United profession has quickly descended into mediocrity, and he now finds himself fourth in Erik ten Hag's centre-back pecking order.

The United No 5 has grown more and more error-prone, together with his lack of tempo a blatant drawback in Ten Hag's desired excessive line.

Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof, and even Luke Shaw have been most well-liked final season. Maguire was up on the market this summer time however rejected a £30m transfer to West Ham United.

And regardless of praising Maguire's potential, Phelan has revealed that the England defender's unimproved weaknesses on present at Hull years in the past are probably contributing to why he's out of favour underneath Ten Hag.

"He's a good footballer. Yes, there are weaknesses in his game. But they were there in his days at Hull," Phelan instructed Sky Sports.

"Some say you should improve your weaknesses, but I'm a believer in keeping on playing to strengths. His ability on the ball, he can read the game, he can definitely score a goal, and he's a good guy.

"He's one of many good guys in soccer. He performs for England and hopefully will do for a very long time, and he turns up - he does not shirk his tasks. So credit score to Harry."

Ten Hag indicated that Maguire was set for a restricted role this season by stripping him of the captaincy and handing the armband to Bruno Fernandes.

But Phelan has hailed Maguire's professionalism amid ever-increasing pressure on him to leave United and Gareth Southgate to take him out of the England frame.

He said: "The new supervisor is available in and desires to vary captaincy; these items occur, and he is aware of that.

"It's not nice at times when you don't know the role you're supposed to do. He's kept himself available, extremely professional, fit.

"Yes, there was discuss a transfer, it hasn't occurred. It would possibly nonetheless occur. I do know he'll give every thing for Manchester United till the second he does not have that shirt on."

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