England stint could be just what Maguire –

INTERNATIONAL breaks are often maligned, but there were few complaints about the latest one, which couldn’t have come at a better time for United and especially Harry Maguire.

The four weeks of fixtures since last month’s international break couldn’t have gone much worse for the Reds.

A 4-2 loss at Leicester City was followed up by a narrow comeback win over Atalanta before they were destroyed 5-0 by Liverpool.

There was a strong response the following week with a 3-0 victory against Spurs, but that didn’t last long as next came a fortunate draw in the reverse fixture with Atalanta and then that humbling derby defeat.

In those few weeks, United have slipped from third in the table to sixth and the pressure has mounted massively on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Which is why the break came as such a relief.

Maguire has also been boosted by his performances for England.

The United captain has had a tough time of it this season, especially over the last month after he was rushed back from a calf injury and didn’t look fully fit at times.

Fatigue after such a hectic summer with Euro 2020 must also be playing its part – as it has with so many others from the England team – and as a result his form has fallen off a cliff.

Maguire enjoyed a solid if unspectacular last season but was excellent during the Euros, a rock in the back-line as England made it all the way to the final. He was named in the team of the tournament.

He has looked like a shadow of that player so far this season, though, constantly being dragged out of

position, making silly, costly mistakes and looking bereft of confidence.

Yet, the 28-year-old has gone away to play with England and has looked completely revitalised.

It helps that the level of the competition – Albania and San Marino, with England netting 15 goals past the pair – was poor, but Maguire didn’t put a foot wrong in either match and scored the opening goal in both games. As a result, he is now the Three Lions’ highest-scoring centre-back of all time.

His celebration after scoring against Albania, cupping his ears to his detractors, suggests that the criticism he has received has been getting him down. But, hopefully for Maguire and for United, the break from the Old Trafford spotlight will have done him good.

When a striker is out of form it’s often said he just needs a goal.

What’s to say the same can’t be said for a defender? He just needs a clean sheet, a good solid game without any mishaps. It doesn’t matter if it comes against a side ranked 210th in the world that has scored just twice in two years.

With any luck, Maguire will come back to United this week with renewed confidence.

United have been missing their Mr Reliable and the sooner they get him back the better.