Harry Maguire says patience has paid off at Manchester United after breaking back into team - ‘I had to bide my time’

Harry Maguire believes his decision to stay put at Manchester United has paid off after re-establishing himself in the side.

The 30-year-old has started United’s last five Premier League games, and seized his opportunity after a spate of injuries in Erik ten Hag’s defence.

His performances have been so good that he has relegated previously established centre-half Raphael Varane to the bench.

He said: “I am really enjoying my football and I really enjoy playing for this club.

“I was willing to stay and fight for my place, and we have four or five top international centre-backs at this club and the competition for places is really high.”

Maguire endured a frustrating 2022/23 campaign and made only eight Premier League starts, falling out of favour following a heavy 4-0 defeat to Brentford in August.

The defender had a stop-start season that was blighted by minor niggles, and struggled to gain a run of momentum in the team.

“I just didn’t play as many [games] as I would have liked,” he added.

“On the other hand, Rapha [Varane] and Licha [Martinez] were playing brilliantly and kept numerous clean sheets. I had to bide my time and be patient.

“I had two or three opportunities last season to get a run of games but I broke down with illness, I broke down with injuries twice, so I never got the rhythm and never got the run of games that I could prove myself to the manager. I have got that now.”

Despite that lack of consistent game time, Maguire felt he played well whenever called up and justified that with his displays for England at the World Cup.

“I started 16 or 17 games last year and felt like my form was there. There was a lot of talk about me because I wasn’t playing games, but that is the way it is. I was playing well for my country, went to the World Cup and played well and always thought my form was there.

“But I am up against some top, top-level centre-backs and last year they were playing amazingly, so I didn’t get as many opportunities as I would have liked. This club demands competition for places and that is what we have in my position.”

United are next in league action on November 26, when they travel to Everton following the international break.

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