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Wayne Rooney on Harry Maguire's Man Utd form
Manchester United hero Patrice Evra thinks Harry Maguire will be ‘an even better player’ following his recent woes. The England international has experienced a difficult 12 months under the likes of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick and Erik ten Hag. But he stepped up to silence his critics with a brilliant performance against West Ham on Sunday.
Maguire has struggled over the past year, with the United star struggling for consistency and losing his undroppable status in the process.
But he produced a solid showing against West Ham on Sunday, with a late block from Jarold Bowen helping his team battle their way to all three points.
And Evra, speaking to Betfair, thinks Maguire can now be even better for United - insisting Lisandro Martinez can help coax the best from him at Old Trafford.
“It's amazing, I commented on Maguire's post telling him to enjoy the moment,” he said.
“You don't have to tell him to forget the haters, you just have to tell him to enjoy it because it's in the past.
Man Utd hero Patrice Evra has hailed Harry Maguire (Image: GETTY)
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“I was shaking on Sunday when United were playing West Ham.
“I wanted to make sure that we would finish with a clean sheet because, if we didn't, everyone would have said it's because Harry played and that would have been unfair.
“The criticism of Maguire went to a whole new level. Now, I just think he just needs to enjoy things and regain his confidence.
“He needs to focus on United and the call for England will come because Southgate likes Maguire. He's never disappointed Southgate, so that's why now I think the club and Ten Hag are also helping Southgate, to get Harry Maguire playing.
“He needs to continue doing his job for United, because I think for England Harry Maguire isn't a problem, just a solution.
“He was solid against West Ham and may have benefited from his break.
“When you are under pressure, sometimes it's good to be on the bench because that's when you realise what you've done wrong and when you come back you need to be ready.
“Maguire has grown up during this experience. I think he's going to be an even better player. Maybe he was too comfortable before.
“Sometimes it is difficult to criticise yourself. That's why I was happy, because he's got personality.
“Don't get me wrong, it's only one game, but he's going in the right direction and he has my full support.”
Man Utd star Harry Maguire put in a strong showing during West Ham win (Image: GETTY)
And Evra also thinks Martinez can help Maguire get out of trouble in certain situations, adding: “It makes a big difference when you have a pitbull like Lisandro Martinez next to you.
“People talk a lot about Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand , but without each other they wouldn't have been that good.
“Rio was playing like a number 10, he would finish a game and he wouldn't have a mark on him. He was clean and beautiful.
“Then you would see Vida with a broken nose, and a ripped shirt. He was a warrior. You need a warrior and someone playing with their brain.
“That's what Harry needs, someone faster than him, someone who will go to war for him.