‘Harry now leads new generation’

HARRY MAGUIRE has given hope to lower league footballers everywhere – regardless of whether he starts the season at Leicester City or Manchester United.

That’s the view of former Foxes favourite Spencer Prior, who believes that the bucaneering centre-back is leading a new generation of English defensive talent.

Prior played in an era when playing out from the back was seen as something only European sides had the technique to attempt.

After watching England’s composed back three in Russia, Prior is adamant that those days are over.

And that ball-playing defenders such as United target Maguire offer a window into English football’s future.

Inspiration

Yet it’s Maguire past that makes him such an inspiration.

This time last year Maguire was preparing for his first season at the King Power after moving from Hull following their relegation to the Championship.for Sheffield United. Just three seasons before he was performing in League One

The odds of him wowing audiences at a World Cup were as lengthy as Gareth Southgate emerging as a fashion icon.

Now Maguire (top left) is a poster boy for defenders in a brave new era.

“When I was playing I had the nickname ‘pigeon’ because I could always find them in the stand with my clearances,” says Prior (bottom left). “A ballplaying England centreback is a rare commodity.

“But a lot more academies are doing less position-specific coaching, they’re making sure that these youngsters are comfortable on the ball regardless of where they’re receiving the ball on the pitch.

“Harry has come through a very different route.

“People like Rio (Ferdinand) started in midfield and so did Harry (at Sheffield United).

Adaptable

“You often find that those players who have grown up playing in a different area of the park are more adaptable and more able to play with the ball at their feet.

“I don’t think I saw Harry panic once at the World Cup. He was great going forward, great at the back and brilliant from set-pieces.

“He was perfect in that back three because he was constantly prepared to break lines and get forward.

“Harry has shown that you don’t have to come from a Premier League background. He has shown what’s possible when you get firstteam games under your belt early.

“He did that at Sheffield United – he learnt his trade in a tougher environment.

“The fact he got relegated with Hull and then turned that round at Leicester and got an England call-up also shows that he has got unbelievable resilience.”

Just over 15 months on from experiencing the pain of the drop at the KC Stadium, Maguire is now hot property, not just in English football but across the global game.