Gareth Southgate admits he’s concerned at Harry Maguire and Kalvin Phillips’ lack of club football

Gareth Southgate has voiced concerns over Harry Maguire and Kalvin Phillips‘ lack of regular club football.

The England manager has stuck by Maguire in particular despite his shaky club form and the defender has been solid in international football.

But after making just eight Premier League starts for Manchester United this campaign the centre back is under more scrutiny than ever. 

Kalvin Phillips has been the victim of an injury-hit term but managed just a paltry four starts in all competitions despite being available for decent chunks of the season. 

Southgate said: ‘Harry is captain of an incredible football club so that is a difficult situation. He will obviously be frustrated not to play as much as he would like but I think he has handled that really well. He has publicly talked well about supporting the team.

Fans often question Maguire’s inclusion in England starting XI but he puts in good showings

Phillips has spent large swathes of his first season at Manchester City warming the bench 

‘It is clear, really. I think Harry and Kalvin are the two who have played the least in terms of guys in this squad this season but we have gone with them because in these two positions we think they are still ahead of others that might have played more.

‘But it is then hard when that competition gets more even and you are not playing regularly to see their form, see their fitness so that is the challenge for everybody.’

Maguire played in both of England’s recent Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia, while Phillips came off the bench to score against the latter. 

The former has 57 England caps to his name after breaking into the squad in 2017 and is one of Southgate’s most trusted lieutenants.

But his place at United could be at risk after it emerged that the Red Devils could offer in him a part-exchange plus money deal as they compete with Arsenal for the signature of West Ham ace Declan Rice. 

Meanwhile, Phillips will be hoping he can emulate Jack Grealish in some respects after his renaissance following a challenging first year at Manchester City. 

Since leaving his boyhood club Leeds in 2022, the 27-year-old has struggled to break into a world-class line-up, but Grealish also struggled after leaving Aston Villa in 2021 and has since become an influential player at the club. 

Phillips recently revealed that he plans to talk with Pep Guardiola and wants to stay at the club despite his peripheral role.