I’VE GOT YOUR BACK, HARRY
STONES AND MAGUIRE HAVE FORGED A ROCK-SOLID BOND
JOHN STONES was not even 10 but he still remembers when he first met Harry Maguire.
“I was at Barnsley and he was at Sheffield United,” Stones said of his fellow Yorkshireman.
“You know the good players in the team and you’ve seen the size of him now – he was a big kid.”
Maguire is more complimentary about the formative years of the two central defenders.
“He was very good on the ball back then and you could always tell he was one of the better players in his age group,” said Maguire.
“I was really proud when I saw him progress through the ranks and playing for England when I was still a fan.
“I was watching at the 2016 Euros. John was in the squad and I always used to speak to him.
“Then, playing alongside him for a lot of my caps has been great.
“We know each other’s games, strengths and weaknesses. The bond is there for all to see and of course we are mates off the field as well.”
Now they are the foundation upon which Gareth Southgate, above, feels he can build World Cup success and the England boss sounds a very stark warning to those who belittle them.
“They have provided that incredible platform to build from and we won’t appreciate what stability they have given us until they are not there,” said Southgate.
“They know each other’s games, they fight for each other, they have a determination and they take pride in keeping clean sheets”.
That, of course, did not happen in Monday’s 6-2 win over Iran. But Maguire was taken ill shortly after England conceded the first goal and was off the pitch by the time Stones conceded a late penalty.
Generally, they have been there for each other.
Maguire wins his 50th cap against the USA tonight and it will be the 32nd time he has played alongside Stones.
But it is off the field where their bond has really set, cemented in recent weeks when Maguire’s club form appeared to threaten his England spot.
“We have been swapping texts but nothing about football,” said Stones. “Sometimes that can be the best thing.
“I’m sure you have been in a situation where you have hurt your leg or whatever and everybody is bombarding you with questions about how it is – you just don’t want to be asked about it sometimes.
“We have got a good enough relationship to put things to one side and be normal.” Previously it was Stones who
was made to suffer international uncertainty. After a woeful 2019 Nations League semi-final against Holland, he spent 16 months in the wilderness but he still remained Maguire’s partner in exile.
“When you’re not playing, it’s a generic thing as a footballer,” said Manchester City star Stones.
“You want to have that feeling of being part of the team.
“But it was the perfect thing when we played Manchester United in the EFL Cup two years ago and I scored.
“It was perfect how after the game he came over and we embraced.”
All of which rather begs the question as to how Southgate – with a leaning towards a back three against the stronger nations – squeezes another one into the mix.
Even another Yorkshireman such as Kyle Walker.
“If we come up against those teams, it would be down to the manager and us having to adapt to a new system because of the qualities they bring to the game,” said Stones.
“But do we need an extra man? Personally, no.”
They are an incredible platform to build from