Manchester United legend Roy Keane has said that he has concerns with the defensive displays of Harry Maguire during the opening phase of the current campaign.
The England international was touted to join the Red Devils from the beginning of the summer transfer window and the move was eventually completed in early August after Leicester City’s demands were met.
Maguire has since featured in the opening four games of the new Premier League season, but he has been able to help the side to just one clean sheet which came in the 4-0 thumping of Chelsea in the curtain-raiser.
Speaking to ITV, Keane said that Maguire has been decent with his showing for the Red Devils this term and he needs to improve on the defensive facet of his game where he has been found out on occasions.
While Maguire has impressed with his distribution from the back, Keane believes the 26-year-old is vulnerable with his slow reaction and sometimes struggles to co-ordinate with his fellow central defensive partner.
“I think he has done OK. We’re talking about how good he is on the ball but defensively I still have one or two question marks over him. I worry about his pace on the turn,” he told ITV as quoted by TalkSPORT.
“I remember the first goal against Crystal Palace and he wasn’t doing his best covering his other centre-half. Listen, he’s 26 years of age now. You’re worried if you’re pointing these things out to him.”
Maguire has earned plenty of praise from the United faithful since making his league debut last month but it can be acknowledged that he has been caught out on a couple of instances with the lack of pace on the turn.
The Englishman is unlikely to improve on this attribute at the current phase of his career and he just needs to find a better understanding with Victor Lindelof such that they can restrict the opposition from scoring.
United are currently on five points after the opening four league games of the season. They are scheduled to face Maguire’s former club Leicester City at Old Trafford following the international break.
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