'Harry Maguire is as good as any Man Utd defender'

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 8 Sept 2023 16:29 BST
• 3 min read

Harry Maguire should be starting for Manchester United according to Martin O'Neill, but Anthony Martial's attitude would 'irritate' any manager.

O'Neill has been running the rule over Man Utd's transfer business this summer - a window which saw them recruit Rasmus Hojlund, Andre Onana, Mason Mount and more, but fail to offload fringe players like Maguire and Scott McTominay.

Maguire in particular came close to leaving, with West Ham lodging a £30 million bid for the England defender, with the player himself turning down the move over the lack of a Man Utd payoff to account for his reduction in earnings.

READ: Man Utd's Harry Maguire transfer U-turn

Maguire fell behind Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane in the central defensive pecking order at Old Trafford under Erik ten Hag last season, with the Dutchman even preferring to use Victor Lindelof or out-of-position left-back Luke Shaw in an emergency.

'Maguire as good as any'

"Harry Maguire will feel he's as good as any of those defenders in that side," former Leicester, Celtic and Ireland manager O'Neill told Ladbrokes. "It might not be what Ten Hag has got planned, but you're looking at the squad at the moment, and you're looking at the style of play."

While Maguire has been sidelined through managerial choice, Hojlund, a €75m arrival from Atalanta, had to wait a month to make his debut due to injury, with Anthony Martial leading the line in his stead. O'Neill isn't a fan.

READ: Man Utd told to SACK Ten Hag over Hojlund decision

"Anthony Martial's demeanour would probably irritate you if you're a manager," he said. "He just seems to mope and moan. He doesn't do enough, he complains when he's coming off - but you just think 'You're playing for Manchester United; you've got to be doing more!'

"We're not talking about an ordinary Premier League side here. It's Manchester United. You've got to be better."