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Manchester United defender Harry Maguire feels he is now getting his reward for remaining at Old Trafford to prove he is worthy of a place in Erik ten Hag\u2019s starting line-up.<\/p>\n
Maguire made his fifth Premier League start of the season in the\u00a01-0 win\u00a0against Luton at Old Trafford on Saturday.<\/p>\n
It is more than most expected at this point in the campaign given he had been restricted to a couple of late substitute appearances until the end of September.<\/p>\n
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But Maguire has performed so well since playing a significant role in the dramatic victory over Brentford on 7 October that he has kept four-time Champions League winner Raphael Varane on the bench.<\/p>\n
Maguire turned down an offer from West Ham this summer in favour of remaining at Old Trafford, even though the club accepted a bid for the 30-year-old.<\/p>\n
\u201cI played a few games last year, I just didn\u2019t play as many as I would have liked,\u201d said the England centre-back.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had two or three opportunities to get a run of games but I broke down with illness and broke down with injuries twice, so I never got the rhythm and never got the run of games so I could prove myself to the manager.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really enjoy playing for this club and I was willing to stay and fight for my place.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maguire only started eight Premier League games last season, with Ten Hag believing he is not quick enough in rotating the ball in the left central defensive role he had occupied since his \u00a380m arrival from Leicester in 2019.<\/p>\n
It ended up being a straight battle with Varane for a starting slot, with the former France and Real Madrid defender coming out on top.<\/p>\n
However, Maguire didn\u2019t let the setback negatively affect him, drawing on the positive experiences from his career.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou use your experience and the memories you\u2019ve had,\u201d he said. \u201cI had to work hard in training to make sure I was ready.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a lot of talk about me because I wasn\u2019t playing games, but I was playing well for my country, went to the World Cup and always thought my form was there.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I am up against some top-level centre-backs and last year they were playing amazingly, so I didn\u2019t get as many opportunities as I would have liked.<\/p>\n
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