Maguire is pressing for a return against Czechs
HARRY Maguire is raring to return from his six-week injury lay-off and help England progress to the European Championship knockout phase as group winners.
Having kicked off Group D with a 1-0 win against World Cup semifinal foes Croatia before drawing 0-0 with oldest rivals Scotland, England face Czech Republic at Wembley tonight.
Gareth Southgate’s men are well placed to progress and know a Wembley return in the last 16 will be secured by beating the Czechs.
Manchester United captain Maguire missed the end of the club season with the high ankle sprain sustained in early May and made the England bench for the first time against Scotland.
“I’m feeling good,” he said. “With the ankle injury, it’s getting stronger, I’m getting more confident.
“The more sessions I do, the more games I play, I’m sure I’ll get more confidence and that’s the thing with these type of injuries.
“I think it’s just about building the confidence.
“It’s all stable now and I’m available and I’m ready to go.
“Any Euro match is really important to go out there and try and win the football match.
“The boys have put ourselves in a great position in the group – four points from two games – although obviously we want to win every match so we’d like to be on six.
“But it’s still in a strong position and now it’s another big game against the Czechs and one we’re looking forward to and we go there and try to get three points.”
Tyrone Mings has kept back-toback clean sheets alongside John
Stones in the centre of defence in Maguire’s absence but Southgate will be tempted to pair Maguire alongside the Manchester City defender again.
“John’s had a great season at Manchester City and he’s took that into the first few games of the tournament, where he’s been excellent,” added Maguire.
“He’s a good friend of mine, he’s a great footballer and he’s obviously a pleasure to play alongside.”
Derby County goalkeeper David Marshall will be looking to help Scotland through to the knockout stages when they take on Croatia at Hampden Park.
But the Scots have been hit by news that Billy Gilmour has returned a positive coronavirus test.
The Chelsea midfielder impressed in his first Scotland start on Friday as he helped the team earn a goalless draw with England at Wembley.
That result left Steve Clarke’s side still in with a shot at reaching the knockout stages.
But 20-year-old Champions League winner Gilmour will have to quarantine for the next 10 days.
The other 25 players in the Scotland squad trained yesterday and all tested negative from precautionary lateral flow tests immediately afterwards.
Gilmour tested positive after a PCR test on Sunday.