Harry Maguire: Man Utd, England defender thanks Gareth Southgate for support amid previous fan criticism

Harry Maguire has thanked Gareth Southgate for showing him "faith" and trust" throughout his tenure as England manager.

Maguire has been in and out of the Manchester United team this season, making 19 appearances, and most recently has been behind Victor Lindelof and Raphael Varane in the pecking order.

But the defender continues to be selected for international duty by Southgate, having won all 62 of his caps under the former Middlesbrough boss.

He is expected to be involved in the upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Belgium on Saturday, March 23 and Tuesday, March 26 respectively, as England continue their preparations for Euro 2024.

"I think I've been in every single squad I've been available for, I've played every competitive game that I've been available for," said Maguire, who made his debut in 2017.

"It gives me great confidence. There's loads of people out there now who probably don't think I should be in the squad. There's millions of people that think I should be.

"That's football and that's why it's such a great game because everyone has such a different opinion."

He added: "I think that the faith and the trust that he [Southgate] has shown me throughout my time for England has been brilliant."

With Erik ten Hag reportedly under pressure at United, Southgate has been linked with the manager’s job at Old Trafford – but Maguire insists the England players want him to extend his stay with the Three Lions.

Asked if he and his international team-mates want Southgate to remain beyond the summer, Maguire responded: “Yeah, definitely, obviously.

“We want to be successful in the Euros – we are not looking at the World Cup at the moment – but obviously if we are successful at the Euros, which is our main focus, of course, we want to be successful.

“If Gareth’s the man to make us be successful then we want him to stay as long as possible. I’ve had a great relationship with him. I’ve been a big part of the success and the progression that we’ve shown as a country.

“And I’m sure he will say the same thing now, it’s all about winning a trophy. I don’t know what’s going to happen after the Euros, I don’t know if he knows what’s going to happen.

“But I feel like what he’s done from when he first took over this job to where we are at now, we’ve taken huge strides and he’s a massive part of that.

“He’s definitely got the recognition and respect of the players, and people who are close to him. And people whose opinions matter to him.”

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