Will Gareth Southgate start Harry Maguire for England vs. Ukraine? | ESPN FC

I'd start him against Ukraine but not against Scotland

Despite barely kicking a ball for Manchester United, not just last season but so far this season, Harry Maguire will end up starting for England against Ukraine tomorrow. Every time he plays for England, his performances have been a little better considering the amount of football he's played for his club in the last 12 months, but honestly I don't know how long he can continue to start for his country when he doesn't play a lot at club level. At Manchester United, he warms the bench, doesn't get on the field for a lot of games and when he does, he's poor and gets an 8-10 minute cameo off the bench and he's not playing enough minutes yet continues starting for England since he's a favorite of Gareth Southgate. He should've made a move in the summer when West Ham wanted to sign him, because if he did and was playing and performing, there wouldn't be a conversation about his place in the England team, but because he's still playing for Manchester United and is on he bench, we continue to question Gareth Southgate for consistently calling up a player who isn't good enough for his club and he starts which makes no sense at all. There's a January transfer window and he can still make a move he desperately needs to do that because as long as he's at Manchester United, content with his wages and his sporadic role he shouldn't make the EUROs.

The same thing applies to Kalvin Phillips as well he's in the same situation as Harry Maguire. Ever since he joined Manchester City from Leeds United last year, he's not been playing at all, when he does it's always a cameo and gets a chance to play whenever the team is up 3-0 with a couple of minutes to go and so far this season his situation hasn't changed, he continues to be comfortable sitting on the bench. Despite his lack of consistent minutes at club level over the last 12 months, Kalvin Phillips is still getting picked by the England national team even though he's not playing at Manchester City. I don't get Gareth Southgate at all, continuing to select players who've barely kicked a ball in months for their club, they're good enough to play for their country despite not playing enough on their teams. I still think he's at risk of losing his place in the England national team because he can't keep picking fringe players in his squad and for the EUROs if he is to keep his England place, he might need to make a move in January, but he shouldn't be anywhere near the England national team right now when you've hardly kicked a ball in a year.

Ofcourse he will start him!!!