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– Harry Maguire can be a “great player” for Manchester United if he can reproduce his England form with his club, says United manager Erik ten Hag.
– The defender, 29, has made one Premier League start since August, when he was dropped after United’s 4-0 defeat at Brentford in favour of Raphael Varane.
– But he started each game of England’s run to the World Cup quarter-finals.
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– “I’ve been asked many times. It’s clear he is good enough to play at the highest level,” said Ten Hag.
– “He has, for England, good games almost all the time. He had a period in Manchester where he performed badly. Then, of course there are difficulties.
– “But when he is working hard, he gets that confidence. You are seeing that with the way he is playing for England.
– “We want him to bring it on the pitch for Manchester United. I expect from him, the team knows what they expect from him. If he does that, he will be a great player for us.”
– Ten Hag has preferred Varane and Lisandro Martinez as his centre-back pairing during the start of his first season at Old Trafford.
– With both their countries having reached the semi-finals, they will still be at the World Cup until next weekend.
– Maguire could therefore start for United at home to Nottingham Forest on 27 December and Ten Hag says the £80m signing will get the chance to re-establish himself as a first-choice defender at Old Trafford.
– “I have two or three good players in the right centre-back position,” said the United boss.
– “After Brentford, I had to change the mentality. He was unlucky that moment was bad for him but it doesn’t say anything about his quality. Rapha came in and is doing a good job.
– “There are laws of the game in top football. You have to take your chance.
– “The only thing he has to do is train well and perform well. He has games, he has rhythm. His chance will come.”
