Maguire ‘warned’ as Man Utd miss out in race they weren’t in

One ridiculous question asked of Gareth Southgate ensures Harry Maguire dominates the back page, even amid a Manchester United coaching blow.

Spill the guarantee

That does, at least, give us some stories that strive to pretend their very basis is not preposterous.

The Daily Mirror go for ‘Harry Maguire offered no England World Cup guarantees despite Gareth Southgate support’ as the headline to a John Cross piece, which adds that: ‘Gareth Southgate has given his full support to Harry Maguire – but warned he cannot guarantee him a World Cup place.’

Well yes. That is not a ‘warning’. It is a statement of obvious fact.

‘But even though Southgate was keen to stress his support, there was still an underlying message that every player must earn their place in the squad.’

That ‘underlying message’ from Southgate?

“I’m not going to give any of them that because they’ve got competition for places. I’m not going to say to anybody in the middle of March that they are a guaranteed starter in the World Cup team.”

It really is hiding between the lines.

Why do fans treat England games like a reality show?

Over at the MailOnline, their Caps Lock remains in good nick.

‘Gareth Southgate WON’T give Harry Maguire assurances over a spot in England’s World Cup starting XI… with the Three Lions boss keen to harness ‘competition for places’ ahead of Qatar’

Again: obviously. This is all very evident stuff packaged as groundbreaking news. Of course he WON’T give Harry Maguire assurances over a spot in England’s World Cup starting XI. He won’t – sorry, WON’T – give anyone assurances over a spot in England’s World Cup starting XI. That would be bizarre.

And then there’s the Daily Express website, who heard Southgate’s answer to a question about