Gareth Southgate warned about losing 'respect' of England squad because of one player
England boss Gareth Southgate is currently preparing for Ukraine and Scotland fixtures
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England boss Gareth Southgate has been warned he could lose the respect of his players due to his loyalty to Harry Maguire.
Maguire has been named in the latest Three Lions squad for upcoming matches against Ukraine and Scotland.
And that's despite the 30-year-old toiling for Manchester United, with the centre-back currently way down in Erik ten Hag's pecking order.
Former England and United star Paul Parker has now had his say on Maguire.
England have named Harry Maguire in their latest squad despite Man Utd struggles
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And he's warned Southgate he could lose the respect of his squad because of his willingness to keep picking Maguire.
“Southgate shouldn’t be picking Maguire and there’s no good reason to pick him," he told MyBettingSites.
"If Southgate wants the respect of his England squad then he shouldn’t be calling him up.
“It’s disrespectful to other players that are playing week in week out and playing well for their clubs whilst Southgate is picking Maguire who is not deemed to be good enough for his club side and doesn’t want to go and play.
“The public will look at Maguire in the squad and see that as unfair.”
“You can say every time he’s played for England, he’s played well but there have been times he’s been caught out.
“He could get caught out this international break because he’s playing against players that are playing week in week out. They’re sharper.
“Maguire isn’t blessed with pace or great agility so he will be caught out."
Parker added: “His career at the moment should be on hold.
“He hasn’t played regular football for a long, long time.”
“He’s happy to sit on the bench and get money in. Why doesn’t he show a bit of endeavour and sign a contract with financial incentives to show he’s got a point to prove?”
Parker also thinks England managers of previous years would have dropped Maguire from the squad.
And he believes Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi is a great alternative to Maguire due to his impressive performances at Selhurst Park.
“A Bobby Robson, Terry Venables or a Kevin Keegan would have talked to Maguire and told them why they’ve been dropped," he continued.
“There are some seriously good left sided defenders, proper left sided defenders that can do a job.
"Marc Guehi, for example, uses his left foot like a wand but is right-footed.
“People say Maguire has done well for England but he’s not been massively outstanding. England aren’t the most expansive team. They sit very, very deep when he plays so we absorb pressure because of that.
“Maguire might have to go backwards to go forwards again and if he wants to do himself justice for club and country he needs to be playing football.
“People at the club may be looking at him and tutting. The captaincy has gone and yet he still wants to be there [at Manchester United].
"Players from my era and before wouldn't accept that. They would want to get away and people would respect them for that.”
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Paul Parker played for Man Utd and England just like Harry Maguire
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At the end of last month, Southgate defended his decision to pick Maguire.
"With Harry Maguire, we've lost a lot of experienced players in terms of caps at centre half, so we're giving some less experienced players the opportunity to come into the squad," he said.
"But unfortunately, it looks like Tyrone Mings is out for most of the season, John Stones is out for this camp, Eric Dier hasn't appeared in Tottenham's squad and Conor Coady is also out and in the Championship now.
"So if we're looking at the players we've given caps to over the last few years, there is a space there. For these two games, it's important we have some experience in that area of the pitch.
"Clearly with Harry and Kalvin Phillips, it's far from ideal they arent playing football."