Matthew DUNN Maguire to soon face new kind of trial
BEST OPTION FOR LIONEL
HARRY MAGUIRE’S legal issues in Greece may rumble on for two years, but the Manchester United defender could find himself in the dock at Wembley in October.
He may never have to face a Greek court again, but a trial by terraces is another matter.
United explained their decision not to strip Maguire of the club captaincy by pointing out that the Greek judicial system means even winning the right to an appeal expunges any previous conviction.
The defender’s slate was not wiped clean quickly enough for an England reprieve, of course.
After Tuesday’s mammoth U-turn – when first Maguire was selected then removed from the squad by Gareth Southgate – it is still considered best for all parties that the dust be allowed to settle for the next two internationals at least.
But the feeling within the FA was that there would be no barrier to his selection for the next raft of games in October – home clashes against Wales, Belgium and Denmark.
With the football authorities also pushing the Government to use the games as another step in the reintroduction of supporters, Maguire will leave the behind-closed-door sterility of the Premier League and face potential abuse from fans.
And Wales fans have never been shy in testing the mettle of opponents from the away end.
Wembley, too, has not always been kind to its own and Maguire will get a first true sense of how his stock stands with the football-going public when his name is read out over the public address system.
It will help that he has been supported by club and country.
United have been steadfast in backing their skipper, offering legal help unquestioningly. Southgate, too, was left in the invidious position of wanting to support his player instinctively despite his unease at the squad announcement coinciding with the legal summing up in Syros.
He canvassed opinion around senior FA members to check he was not letting his football brain rule his strong moral backbone. Arguably, they were too in thrall of him to point out the rare error of his ways.
Now, though, it is up to Maguire.
The salt-of-the-earth, levelheaded character deemed incapable of having got into such a scrape must prove his qualities on the pitch. He will be the focus of scrutiny wherever he goes and the pressure will be on him to keep his cool under whatever provocation.
Then again, he is the former England fan who lent on that fence at the World Cup as though nothing fazed him.
On his first call-up to the senior England squad, he arrived at St George’s Park with his kit in a bin bag.
For the next chapter of his career, however, he must show he can play his vital role for the team without any baggage whatsoever.