Ralf Rangnick told to drop Manchester United captain Harry Maguire for his own good

Former Tottenham Hotspur captain Ledley King believes Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick should consider pulling Harry Maguire out of the firing line to allow him refocus on his form.

The United skipper, who was booed by some England supporters during last Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Ivory Coast at Wembley, has experienced a season to forget at Old Trafford. He has been guilty of some underwhelming performances and costly mistakes, prompting flak from many United fans and pundits.

Maguire, on occasions, has been dropped by Rangnick, but he has started each of United's past three Premier League games, as well as the second-leg of their Champions League last-16 defeat to Atletico Madrid. Maguire was taken off late on that evening and was booed by some fans as he trotted off the pitch.

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On the international stage, however, the 29-year-old has been rock solid and central to what England have achieved in recent years' he looks set to be a regular starter at the World Cup later this year. However, former Three Lions defender King believes that Maguire could rediscover his true capabilities if left out of the United side for a "few weeks."

King, speaking to Reece Mennie on his podcast, said: "I think Gareth [Southgate] backs him, he's played well for England but he's just in a bad mental space at the moment. I know what it's like.

"The game just seems a lot when you know you're not playing at your best. When you think too much, it just doesn't come naturally, and now can he get out of that?

"Whether the manager (Rangnick), who is close to him on a daily basis, feels that he needs to pull him out for