Maguire keeps focus

BASAKSEHIR v MAN UNITED 5.55PM, BT SPORT 3

MANCHESTER United captain Harry Maguire insists he has put his recent troubles on and off the field behind him and is focused solely on driving the club towards success.

The 27-year-old was handed a suspended 21-month prison sentence by a Greek court following an incident during a pre-season break to Mykonos – a verdict nullified while the player awaits retrial following an appeal.

Maguire has not been at his best since returning to action and was sent off playing for England last month. ‘My mind’s fully focused on football,’ said the centre-half. ‘Obviously I had a difficult period in the summer but, no, I am fully focused.’

United will look to continue their perfect start to the Champions League group stage at Istanbul Basaksehir tonight amid a poor start to the Premier League. Defending has been a major talking point following the 6-1 hammering by Tottenham, but Maguire believes they are on the right track.

‘Obviously as the captain I focus more on the team than individually,’ he said. ‘We started the season defensively not in the best shape.

‘Against Crystal Palace we were too open (and lost 3-1) and Tottenham we let ourselves go, especially when we went down to ten men. We can’t concede six in any game, especially for this club. It isn’t good enough so we have worked hard on that since the international break.

‘Defensively we feel like we’re on the right track but we need to get the balance right and that’s our job as well, in terms of the attacking shape and the balance of defending and attacking.’