Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has suggested he will need to have talks with the club over a potential January transfer if he continues to “play once every month”.
The England centre-back has fallen out of favour under Erik ten Hag, making just nine Premier League starts since the beginning of last season. He was also stripped of the captaincy this past summer.
After move to West Ham United fell through during the transfer window, Maguire is determined to win his starting role back.
“I have belief in my ability and what I have done in my career as every player should,” Maguire said, via Press Association.
“Every player who is on the bench should believe they should be starting, otherwise they wouldn’t be playing at a high level. I am no different.
“Listen, it’s been tough. I want to play games. I want to feel important to the club and I want to feel important to the rest of the team.
“At the moment I haven’t been playing anywhere near as much as I’d like. It’s the bottom line of it.
“I’ve just got to make sure I am ready to take the opportunities when they come along.”
Maguire says that a lack of gametime will become a problem closer to Euro 2024, hinting that a January move could be on the cards so that he can stay in Gareth Southgate’s plan for the tournament.
“I mean, I’m not going to sit here all my life and play once every month and if it carries on then I’m sure myself and the club will sit down and have a chat about things,” he said.
“But, honestly, at the moment I’m fully focused on two games for England, two big games.
“Then I’m fully focused on fighting and trying to get back my place at Manchester United and helping the team climb up the league to where we should be.”
Southgate has admitted concerns over the Man United player’s level of involvement, but has continued to pick the 30-year-old for the national team.
“It’s not my decision whether I start the next game or not,” he said. “I’m unsure on that. I’m sure in a couple of weeks I’ll go back and find out.
“Listen, if you look back on my last 15 to 20 starts for club and country, I would be happy to sit here and say ‘I’m really happy with my performances’.
“My record under this manager speaks for itself. I haven’t started as many games as I’d like, but my win percentage when I’ve played is ridiculously high.
“And of course there’s times when I can do more and times when I can improve and help the team, but, yeah, I’m just wanting to help the team.
“I’m wanting to help the team get out of this position that we’re in at the moment and hopefully we can do that in the coming weeks.”
A number of defensive casualties at the club meant that Maguire was handed his first league start of the campaign against Brentford on Saturday, during which he laid on the assist for Scott McTominay’s winner.
“I can only do what I’ve been doing in terms of when I’ve come into the team, bringing positive performances,” Maguire said.
“I’ve started two games this season and come on in a few off the bench, but, yeah, keep working hard in training.
“The manager can only watch training and make his decision from training and the games when I get the opportunity to play.
“I’ll keep working hard, I’ll keep pushing. I have great belief in myself.”
