Man Utd: £200k-a-week star 'fit to start' for England vs USA | OneFootball

Manchester United and England centre-back Harry Maguire should be fit to play in Gareth Southgate’s side’s World Cup clash against the USA this evening, according to journalist Simon Phillips.

The 29-year-old had to be substituted in the Three Lions’ 6-2 victory over Iran on Monday afternoon after feeling unwell.

What’s the latest news on Maguire?

According to multiple sources, Maguire is set to start in tonight’s clash with the USA, after being substituted off in the second half of the side’s opening game looking dazed.

However, the Manchester United centre-back confirmed on Twitter that he was fine and that he just came off as a precaution which will have relieved manager Southgate, who have the former Leicester City man his England debut in a 1-0 World Cup qualifying victory in Lithuania in October 2017.

The Three Lions manager will be hoping that Maguire can put in a solid display in the country’s fixture against the USA, with a win likely to give England a huge chance of progressing to the knockout stages of the tournament.

And Phillips confirmed that the 2019 £80m summer signing didn’t suffer from anything serious in Monday’s group stage victory.

What has Phillips said about Maguire?

Phillips told GIVEMESPORT: “What I’m hearing is that Harry Maguire was nothing serious, and he should be available to start again on Friday.”

What next for Maguire?

In the immediate future, Maguire will be hoping that he can help secure a major tournament title for England for just the second time in the country’s history, and the first time since that famous 1966 World Cup victory.

He has already been part of a relatively successful England side during Southgate’s tenure at the helm, helping the side reach a World Cup semi-final in 2018 before a devastating defeat in the Euro 2020 final to Italy denied the country its first-ever European Championship title.

Looking beyond the World Cup, the £200k-per-week centre-back will hope to force his way back into Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United plans, having been dropped from the Premier League starting line-up after the Red Devils’ 4-0 defeat at Brentford back in August, or encourage another top European club to acquire his services from the Manchester club in January.

The Guardian reported earlier this month that United are ready to listen to offers for his services at the end of the season, as ten Hag plans a summer rebuild at the Premier League giants.

Therefore, this World Cup tournament may be the best chance for Maguire to impress potential suitors, ahead of a likely move at the end of the season, making this a critical few weeks for the centre-back.