Harry Maguire might get chance that two Manchester United teammates haven't had

Harry Maguire was a sole representative for Manchester United when Gareth Southgate and England met for the summer internationals. Fast forward two months, though, and the tables have turned to throw up question marks over the £80million man and his World Cup aspirations.

Maguire, 29, has been a pivotal figure for the national team under Southgate during memorable runs to the World Cup semi-finals and Euro 2020 showpiece. However, that came at a time when he was among the first names to be pencilled into the United team-sheet on any given matchday in the main competitions.

United manager Erik ten Hag publicly backed Maguire this summer and retained him as captain. However, after he started in the humbling defeats to Brighton and Brentford — which left United bottom of the table — Maguire found himself on the bench for victories against Liverpool, Southampton and Leicester.

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Raphael Varane and impressive summer signing Lisandro Martinez are now the men in possession. And Maguire does not have to look too far for warning signs after his United teammates, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford, slipped down the England pecking order last season.

Maguire remains in credit with Southgate, though, and might also have been offered a loophole based on the rest-time which could be afforded to him while waiting for another chance.

Speaking about workload heading into the Qatar showcase, England manager Southgate said: "I think the lower the load the less likely for injuries and the hope that players can be that little bit sharper, but there's no way of knowing [which players might be injured].

"Some players are at their best when they're in a rhythm of playing and you talk to some of our lads now