MANCHESTER UNITED legend Wayne Rooney has put club captain Harry Maguire’s poor form down to confidence.
Maguire has endured a torrid season with United and has been criticised for his performances.
However, for Gareth Southgate’s England, Maguire looks “world-class.”
Club legend Rooney says the club, who find themselves seventh in the Premier League, need to find a “consistency” with winning for players like Maguire to rediscover their form.
Speaking on Monday Night Football, Rooney said: “I like Harry. I know Harry personally.
“He hasn’t been in his best form this season, like a lot of players haven’t.
READ MORE IN MAN UTD
“And then he goes to play for England and he looks a world-class centre-back.
“Again, a lot of it is confidence. The players need to feel winning again, to feel winning consistently to get that confidence back.
“And if they do that, Harry Maguire’s a big part of it.”
Maguire’s club form may have been the reason he was booed before England’s friendly against Ivory Coast.
His name was met by jeers when it was read out as part of Southgate‘s starting XI before the 3-0 victory.
Such antics from fans were slammed by Southgate, who defended Maguire.
The centre-back has played a big role for England on the international stage during the last two tournaments.
Maguire helped England reach a World Cup semi-final and the Euros final last year.
He also scored an emphatic penalty in the nail-biting shootout, before it all went wrong against Italy.
Southgate said: “I thought the reception was a joke, an absolute joke.
“The way he has performed for us has been absolutely phenomenal. I don’t get it. We’re either all in this together or we’re not.
“He’s in an England shirt and not only should you support a player in an England shirt regardless, but when you’ve played at the level he has for us and put the performances in he has, it should be total commitment behind him. I don’t get it at all.
“His performance was pretty faultless really. He stepped out from the back really well for his first goal, was involved in the second one too. So, yeah. The team are totally united.”
