John Terry singled out Harry Maguire and praised him after his stalwart performance in Saturday’s Manchester derby.
The Manchester United centre-back returned to the starting XI for the first time since November 8, when he suffered a thigh injury against Tottenham Hotspur and consequently missed almost two months of action.
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It showed how much Michael Carrick thought of him, as Carrick decided to include Maguire in his first line-up since being named caretaker manager last week.
How Maguire did against Manchester City
(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Maguire proceeded to play the full 90 minutes at Old Trafford, during which he made five passes into the final third, five clearances, two headed clearances, five recoveries, one tackle and one block, earning him a rating of 7.6 on Fotmob.
Appreciating his fellow defender’s display on Instagram, Terry said: “What a performance by this man today. Upload him to the (plane emoji).”
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It goes without saying that being part of Thomas Tuchel’s squad for the World Cup in the summer will be on Maguire’s mind in the months leading up to the start of the tournament, especially He is now fully fit and can try to make an impact on the field.
*Maguire in the league this season (Transfermarkt)
The 32-year-old has not been called up for his nation since September 2024, when Lee Carsley succeeded Gareth Southgate for a brief period until Tuchel officially took the reins in early 2025.
Maguire waiting for England call-up after 16 months of absence
(Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
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Unfortunately, Tuchel is yet to utilize Maguire’s services, and the player’s ongoing injury concerns have not helped his case in any way.
With 64 caps for his nation, the Sheffield United graduate will keep his fingers crossed that he can add to his tally when the Three Lions return to action in March for their friendly double-header against Uruguay and Japan.
As well as Maguire, Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount will try to compete.
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