After salvaging a seemingly doomed Manchester United career, Harry Maguire is now out to rescue his club\u2019s continental dreams.<\/p>\n
The England defender, 30, started the new campaign surplus to requirements under Erik ten Hag but has taken advantage of an injury crisis to reclaim his spot in United\u2019s line-up.<\/p>\n
This evening, Maguire and Co must keep Bayern Munich and the prolific Harry Kane at bay if they are to play any form of European football after Christmas.<\/p>\n
Ahead of the clash, we shine a light on Maguire\u2019s unlikely resurgence.<\/p>\n
Never give in<\/h2>\n
It would have been easy for Maguire to call time on his mixed Old Trafford spell this summer.<\/p>\n
Ten Hag had made clear the trio of Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof were all above the former club captain in the pecking order for central defensive berths.<\/p>\n
But when both Lindelof and Martinez limped off injured against Arsenal in September, Maguire emerged from the shadows and soon after, he was back in the side permanently.<\/p>\n
Varane missed an October clash with Brentford through a minor knock and since the Three Lions regular was handed that shirt, he has refused to relinquish it.<\/p>\n
So good have Maguire\u2019s performances been recently, he was voted the Premier League Player of the Month for November.<\/p>\n
Cool head<\/h2>\n
Maguire believes his attitude towards training after being dropped was pivotal to his impressive return.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cEvery day I came to training, tried to drive the standards, drive the training, to make sure we were working at an intensity that enabled us to get three points.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBy doing that, I enabled myself to stay fit, stay ready, stay in a good, positive mindset and be ready to take my chance when it came.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, pundit and former pro Chris Sutton believes Maguire\u2019s temperament may be the best of any player at Ten Hag\u2019s disposal.<\/p>\n
Writing in his Daily Mail column, the ex-England and Blackburn striker explained: \u201cI admire Maguire for the way he persevered to force his way back into Erik ten Hag\u2019s line-up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s shown himself to be a solid character in what appears a toxic changing room.\u201d<\/p>\n If United are to qualify for the Champions League or Europa League knockouts, keeping Maguire\u2019s England team-mate Kane quiet will be key.<\/p>\n The former Tottenham marksman has netted 22 goals in 19 appearances since joining Bayern in summer and has only failed to net in six of those outings.<\/p>\n Fittingly, Kane has been one of Maguire\u2019s biggest allies, staunchly defending his international colleague prior to this evening\u2019s reverse fixture in September.<\/p>\n Kane said: \u201cI think H [Maguire] has come under some unnecessary scrutiny.<\/p>\n \u201cHe has probably been scapegoated a bit. He is a really good friend of mine, a great guy and a really hard-working professional.<\/p>\n \u201cHe has been one of England\u2019s best defenders over recent times and in England\u2019s history.\u201d<\/p>\n In their last three meetings at club level, Maguire emerged on the winning side on each occasion.<\/p>\n Should he do so for a fourth time, it would arguably be his greatest moment in a United shirt.<\/p>\n Premier League Player of the Month \ud83d\ude0d Couldn\u2019t have done it without my team mates, the staff and you fans. Your love and support doesn\u2019t go unnoticed, I appreciate it \u2764\ufe0f @ManUtd<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/hNU3GX3PMY<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Harry Maguire (@HarryMaguire93) December 8, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n![\"Chris](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/1e8e8698-c0c8-494f-8556-dac9961b872e.jpg\")
Facing a friend<\/h2>\n
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