Maguire in it for the long haul with the Reds

HARRY Maguire is confident his fitness can withstand the run-in to a congested season as he approaches the 50 game landmark for 2020/21.

The United centre-back played his 49th match of the season for England in Albania yesterday, and the half-century could be reached against Poland at Wembley on Wednesday night.

If United reach the Europa League final there could be another 14 club games to go, potentially taking Maguire to 64 matches before the start of this summer’s European Championships.

But Maguire is confident he can avoid burnout to play a crucial part for the Reds in the rest of the Premier League season and for England during Euro 2020.

“I don’t look into the negative thoughts, I see it as a positive that I’ve played so many games,” Maguire said.

“I’m working hard when I’m not playing on looking after myself. Mentally and physically I feel like I’m in a good place. It is a lot playing every three days for the club, I don’t think we’ve had seven days without a match and a free week to prepare for a game.

“The hardest part is probably not training a lot and not doing any short, sharp little games,” he said. “I played a little 3 v 3 the other day here with England in training and it was probably the first small-sided game I’ve had for a long time.

“At club level we don’t spend a lot of time on the training pitch. We have a lot of meetings on tactical things and not much short, sharp training so it’s rest and recovery and get ready to go again.”