England manager Gareth Southgate has expressed concern over Harry Maguire and Kalvin Phillips’ lack of regular playing time for their respective clubs. Despite criticisms over his form at Manchester United, Maguire has been a regular starter for the England squad. But with just eight Premier League starts this season, his spot is now under more scrutiny. Phillips, on the other hand, has had a challenging debut season at Manchester City due to injuries and has only made four starts in all competitions. Southgate acknowledges the pair’s lack of game time and is aware of the impact it could have on their form and fitness.
However, Southgate defended his decision to include them in the recent Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia. The England manager believes that despite their limited playing time, they are still ahead of other players in those positions. Southgate also acknowledged the challenge of maintaining their form and fitness when they are not playing regularly.
Maguire has 57 caps for England and is one of Southgate’s most reliable players. Meanwhile, Phillips, who has just broken into the England set-up, recently stated his intention to remain at Manchester City despite his peripheral role. He plans to talk with manager Pep Guardiola to understand how he can improve and secure more game time.
While there are doubts about Maguire’s inclusion and Phillips’ peripheral role at Manchester City, Southgate believes both players still have a lot to offer. It remains to be seen how they will perform in the upcoming international fixtures and how their club situations will evolve in the future.
