Maguire vs Van Dijk: Dean Henderson's opinion has aged like milk

The 2021/22 season has been one to forget for Harry Maguire thus far.

After his heroics with England at Euro 2020 back in the summer, the Manchester United captain has looked anything but an £80 million defender.

In Premier League action, Maguire has been a bit of a disaster at the back, regularly committing mistakes that lead to goals for the opposing team.

On Tuesday evening, the former Leicester City man was at fault for Burnley’s equaliser at Turf Moor. Maguire was spun by Wout Weghorst and the defender was then unable to recover and prevent Jay Rodriguez from scoring.

The 28-year-old really is a pale shadow of the player that dominated the likes of Germany and Ukraine in an England shirt just over half a year ago.

After watching Maguire at Euro 2020, you would have sworn that he was one of the very best centre-backs in the world and worthy of his enormous price tag.

Many football fans fell into that trap and so did a number of fellow footballers – including England and United teammate Dean Henderson.

Just before the Three Lions’ Euro 2020 final heartbreak against Italy, the goalkeeper boldly decided to compare Maguire to Liverpool‘s Virgil van Dijk.

It’s safe to say his words have aged like milk…

“How can you doubt Harry Maguire? Nobody can doubt him,” Henderson told talkSPORT.

“He plays every single game for Manchester United, the biggest football club in the world and no matter what he gives his best.

“Unfortunately you can’t play outstanding in every game because nobody is perfect, but Harry is a top centre-half.

“I’d put him in the same category as Virgil van Dijk, and I’ll be proven right in the next couple of years, because he’s only going to get better and better.”

Oh dear…

Don’t worry, Dean, you’re almost