‘Baffles me’ - Manchester United fans perplexed by two England selection decisions vs Ukraine

Manchester United fans are questioning why Gareth Southgate has decided to start Harry Maguire and bench Marcus Rashford for England’s Euro 2024 qualifying clash versus Ukraine despite their contrasting club importance.

Rashford has only missed seven minutes of the season while Maguire came on for his first outing of the campaign midway through the second half of United's 3-1 loss to Arsenal.

He has dropped down the pecking order under Erik ten Hag since the signing of Lisandro Martinez and the centre-back is now behind Victor Lindelof while Luke Shaw - currently injured - has also been preferred centrally. Nevertheless, the 30-year-old was selected to start England’s clash with Ukraine, earning his 58th cap for his country.

READ MORE: Amrabat injury update

His place at next summer’s Euro 2024 is considered at risk given his precarious position at United. Raphael Varane’s injury, Lisandro Martinez’s in-game knock and Victor Lindelof’s bout of sickness allowed Maguire his first minutes against Arsenal, finishing the game alongside summer returnee Jonny Evans.

Rashford notched his first goal of the season against the Emirates but has not been named in England's line-up to face Ukraine with James Maddison and Bukayo Saka supporting captain Harry Kane. And United fans are bemused by Southgate’s decision regarding both Reds players and took to social media to air their views.

@HojlundGuru: How in the world is Harry Maguire starting for England in their match against Ukraine?

@FletchAddi: it baffles me how Maguire starts.

@qhzwz_: What's he done to deserve that start?

@UTD-Goz: Rashford on the bench and Maguire starting is criminal.

@AdamCue: Southgate plays the one player that doesn’t start for United and drops the one