'He believes I'm a top centre-half' - Manchester United captain Harry Maguire opens up on Erik ten Hag talks

Harry Maguire is willing to fight for his place in the Manchester United side having been told by Erik ten Hag that he is good enough to force his way into his team.

The club captain lifted his first piece of silverware since joining United on Sunday, but he came on for only the final two minutes, plus stoppages, of the Carabao Cup success against Newcastle and shared trophy duties with Bruno Fernandes, who was skipper on the day.

Maguire has started just nine of the 40 games United have played under Ten Hag this season and he hasn't played back-to-back games since the first two fixtures of the season, which resulted in defeats to Brighton and Brentford.

READ MORE: United have done what great teams do in the space of four days

Since then, Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez have forged a partnership at centre-back and Ten Hag's desire to have a left-footer in the centre of defence has meant Maguire has been fighting for a place against Varane and Victor Lindelof, with Luke Shaw now seemingly back-up to Martinez.

But Maguire, who has now come off the bench eight times in the 80th minute or later this season, said he speaks to Ten Hag daily and retains the faith of the Dutchman.

"I think he has been asked numerous times about my role in interviews and he tells me honestly, he believes in me but this is football," he said.

"The lads who are playing and starting, Rapha is playing really well and we have seen his ideas, the manager, what he wants, and he does like a left-footed centre-back playing so no, it’s high competition for places.

"This is Manchester United. We want to win trophies, and big trophies and to do that you need competition for places and the manager speaks to me daily and he really respects me and