Martin Keown identifies Manchester United problem that Harry Maguire is a 'scapegoat' for

Former Arsenal and England defender Martin Keown believes Harry Maguire has become a scapegoat at Manchester United - pointing to midfield as the heart of the issue.

Maguire has endured a torrid time at United since the arrival of Erik ten Hag last summer. The 30-year-old was almost instantly shipped out of the starting line-up after a nightmare start to the campaign.

The England international has often come in for criticism over the last 12 months, some of which has been unfair.

Maguire's first appearance of the season came off the bench against Arsenal, but United have continued to struggle defensively with or without him. And Keown believes the former Leicester man is an easy target for problems occurring further forward.

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"I do feel he [Maguire] gets a lot of unfair criticism," Keown told talkSPORT. "I do feel he's a scapegoat for the Manchester United supporters.

"I do feel that things have not got much better since he has come out of the team. Talking about driving buses through teams, and I think you could do that at Manchester United at the moment.

"It is really the midfield that is the issue and Harry Maguire is not necessarily the problem."

United have been left horribly exposed in midfield so far this season, with Ten Hag yet to find balance in that area. The Dutchman spent £55million on Mason Mount but the pairing of him and Bruno Fernandes further forward has left Casemiro isolated.

Sofyan Amrabat arrived on a season-long loan on deadline day, with the Moroccan hoping to shore things up in the middle of the park.

United's Adidas home shirt is made up of the same colour of the city's iconic red rose and features a black