Harry Kane defends ‘scapegoat’ Harry Maguire and says Man United participant has come below ‘pointless scrutiny’ – as Bayern Munich star insists England team-mate is ‘one in all our greatest defenders ever’

Harry Kane has given England team-mate Harry Maguire his assist because the defender as soon as once more comes under intense scrutiny. 

Maguire has been one in all Gareth Southgate‘s most consistent selections in his England squads since taking cost of the nationwide group, regardless of minutes at Manchester United drying up of late. 

Regardless of a scarcity of sport time, Maguire has been a central figure in every of England’s final three worldwide match squads, during which he has reached a remaining (Euro 2020), semi-final (2018 World Cup), and quarter-final (2022 World Cup). 

After his newest high-profile error – an own goal against Scotland after coming off the bench in a 3-1 win for the Three Lions – the decision for Maguire to now not be referred to as up has only increased.  

As such, with the England skipper in entrance of the media forward of Bayern Munich‘s clash with Man United within the Champions League, Kane was requested concerning the therapy of his worldwide team-mate and ‘good friend’ Maguire.

England captain Harry Maguire provided his assist to team-mate Harry Maguire on Tuesday

The Manchester United defender’s place within the England arrange has come below intense scrutiny

The previous United captain has been bereft of sport time at Previous Trafford since being stripped of the armband

‘I feel H has come below some actually pointless scrutiny, in all probability been scapegoated just a little bit by way of the best way the group has gone over latest time,’ the England captain stated.

‘He’s a very good good friend of mine.

‘From an England standpoint, being one in all our greatest defenders over the historical past of our nation in an England shirt… it’s a part of soccer, however realizing him all he’ll wish to do is attempt to enhance.

‘We’re totally behind him as a nationwide group.’

Kane will doubtlessly face off towards the embattled Maguire on Wednesday, when the Crimson Devils journey to Bavaria for the Champions League Group Stage conflict.

Kane was himself near becoming a member of Man United this summer season, earlier than his staggering £100million transfer to the Bundesliga giants. 

Mail Sport’s Manchester United Confidential revealed that the participant was ready to affix the Crimson Devils subsequent summer season on the finish of his Tottenham contract, had he obtained assurances over the Premier League facet’s curiosity. 

Together with his deal in north London set to run out in the summertime of 2024, a transfer got here this summer season with Spurs finally understanding that shedding such a participant at no cost could be worse in the long run than parting with him sooner than wanted.  

Kane’s Bayern Munich tackle United in a replay of the fabled 1999 Champions League remaining which the Premier League facet received

Maguire, too, was near a transfer over the summer season, with West Ham agreeing a £30m payment for the defender with Man United, just for a deal to fall via after the participant determined he wished to remain at Previous Trafford.

His choice although might come again to hang-out him as England put together for the European Championship subsequent summer season in 2024, as he has solely performed 23 minutes of Premier League soccer, coming off the bench within the 3-1 loss to Arsenal. 

His supervisor Erik ten Hag was one in all many to leap to his defence following the blunder at Hampden Park, insisting that the criticism has been ‘loopy’ and ‘unjustified’.

And the Dutchman was joined by former boss Brendan Rodgers, England supervisor Gareth Southgate, team-mate James Maddison, and even his personal mom, who waded in to name these sending him abuse ‘disgraceful’.