Gareth Southgate U-turn on Harry Maguire has vindicated his Manchester United transfer decision

But for a last-minute transfer U-turn, Harry Maguire is staying at Manchester United.

The defender had the opportunity for a reset with pastures new. He declined the move to West Ham United and now looks set for another uncomfortable season at United.

Erik ten Hag is not having the defender. He's been demoted from captain to, at best, fourth-choice centre-back.

Raphael Varane's injury means Maguire will have more opportunities in the coming month but he'll not be deputising at the Emirates. It's Victor Lindelof who will partner Lisandro Martinez against Arsenal.

Maguire is yet to step foot on the pitch and his first minutes of the season are likely to come for his country. Despite threats from Gareth Southgate, Maguire was once again named in the England squad on Thursday.

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That, in turn, vindicates Maguire's decision to stay at United. Rather than accept his time at Old Trafford is over, he will have to settle for limited minutes. That should have had consequences with England but Southgate is yet to act on his initial message.

In June, Southgate said: “Harry is captain of an incredible football club so that is a difficult situation, he will obviously be frustrated not to play as much as he would like but I think he has handled that really well, he has publicly talked well about supporting the team.

“It is clear, really. I think Harry and Kalvin [Phillips] are the two who have played the least in terms of guys in this squad this season but we have gone