HARRY MAGUIRE HAS insisted he is concentrating on helping England amid speculation that he is being lined up by both Manchester clubs for a summer move.
There have been suggestions that Pep Guardiola has designs on adding Maguire to his England contingent at the Etihad Stadium.
But the 27-year-old, who is also being linked to Manchester United for a second consecutive close season, insists such talk is not a distraction when he dons national-team colours.
“When I’m away with England I don’t think about anything to do with club football,” Maguire said.
“As soon as I wear this badge it’s really important for myself to focus on England and nothing else.
At the moment, nothing’s going through my head in terms of club football. I’m fully focused on the games coming up.”
And Maguire believes the serial winners from Manchester City in England’s squad point the way to glory in the Nations League Finals.
Gareth Southgate’s side take on the Netherlands in their semi-final when the inaugural edition of UEFA’s latest international tournament concludes in Portugal next week.
Maguire and his team-mates have been operating with reduced numbers as they prepare at England’s St George’s Park base, with seven of their colleagues set to be involved in Saturday’s Champions League final between Tottenham and Liverpool.
Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley will join the group after Wednesday’s Europa League final against Arsenal in Baku, although Raheem Sterling, Kyle Walker John Stones and Fabian Delph are all present and correct after sweeping the board domestically with Manchester City.
And Leicester City defender Maguire feels having players who have recently tasted such success at club level can only benefit England as the 1966 World Cup winners go in search of a rare piece of silverware.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve had a trophy. You want to be winners,” he added.
We’ve got a lot of winners in our team. You’ve seen with the Man City boys who’ve just turned up and won three trophies this year.
“We’ve got a lot of winning mentality in our team and hopefully we can transfer it to international football now.”
When England face the Netherlands in Guimaraes, their opponents will be able to call upon arguably the two finest centre-backs in Europe right now.
Maguire is full of admiration for both Liverpool’s PFA Player of the Year Virgil van Dijk and Ajax sensation Matthijs de Ligt.
They’ve both had excellent years,” he added. “De Ligt has been a 19-year-old captain at Ajax and managed to get through to the Champions League semi-finals. He’s a had a great year.
“And you’ve seen Van Dijk has been the standout performer in the Premier League. Liverpool have kept the most clean sheets.
“He’s a top, top player and I’m sure all the defenders who are watching him will be learning from him.”
Gavan Casey is joined by Murray Kinsella and Sean Farrell for a review of the 2018/19 season, and cast an eye forward to next year and the Rugby World Cup in Japan.:
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Makes sense he’s had a few injuries this season so why use him, give him a rest and proper recovery. He’s a big part of Jose’s future plans so he’ll be raring to go next season as a result
@Johnny Bravo: how do you know he’s a big part of Jose’s future plans ?
@Johnny Bravo: o
@Johnny Bravo: or did you just make that up ?
@Alana: to much coffee today Jamie ?
@Johnny Bravo: or is your hand and fingers swollen from some other offline activity?
@Johnny Bravo: stick to making up stuff Thommo
@Alana: So I’m Thommo now lol you’re some tulip
@Johnny Bravo: where did you read he’s part of Jose’s plan for the future?
@Alana: don’t know if this helps, but I read it here. Some bloke called Johnny said so.
@Jumperoo: you must be new here, he makes a lot of stuff up here he also uses the account Thommo
@Alana: obsessed
Wrapping him in cotton wool with nothing to play for in premier league. Probably get a game before FA cup final, arrangement suits everyone good managing. Another CB, LB and a CM who can control tempo of the game(very few out there) needed to challenge man city next season.
@Eric Djemba-Djemba: why would he wrap him up in cotton wool when he had the whole summer off lol deluded
@Alana: why risk injuring your best player with nothing to play for at the end of season?
@Eric Djemba-Djemba: going by your logic Madrid will rest Ronaldo for every game bar the CL final then
@Alana: do you ever stop 20 comments on a Jose article and you took up 10 spouting absolute drivel
Great management. That will make his players warm to him even more.
So considerate of Jose
Story outta nothing again lads…..
So
Makes no sense ? Mourinho is moaning when players have too much games , no rest he moans ? Yet he is playing guys who will be playing an extra month of World Cup in nothing games ! Bizzare
Nothing strange great man management