Something extraordinary happened this week. Gareth Southgate announced his England squad for two forthcoming European Championship qualifiers. He included Harry Maguire and… there wasn’t a widespread guffawing. Wonders will never cease.

After all of the setbacks – the decline in club form, the ostracism from the first team, the mockery of supposed friends and foes because it really is funny to victimise a player until he reveals his mental struggle and then the same people tweet #BeKind – Maguire has, somehow, come back as strong.

Erik ten Hag tried to avoid it for as long as possible, but Maguire is back in the team and back performing. He was arguably Manchester United’s best player against Sheffield United, was definitely their best player against Fulham and the highest performer again against Luton on Saturday. Between all that, he scored the winner against FC Copenhagen and was again arguably man of the match.

Related ArticleFOOTBALLBIG READThe fan-owned football club where refugees, the homeless and prison inmates are welcome

This is no joke. It is not easy to come into any team having been left out in the cold – Maguire’s start against Brentford on 7 October was just his seventh in the league since August 2022 – least of all when that team is struggling in front of a new goalkeeper and with injuries mounting up.

Add in the pressure upon Maguire given the derision and mockery he had previously faced, and you have a bloke who deserves enormous respect for his strength of character.