Harry Maguire v Fikayo Tomori argument leaves pundit in shaking head in disbelief amid Man Utd claim

Danny Mills’ defence of Harry Maguire’s England selection has left a fellow pundit shaking her head,

Maguire was selected by Gareth Southgate for the upcoming FIFA World Cup despite starting just three Premier League games for Manchester United this season, playing four in total. Maguire has been out of form for club and country over the last year, but he remains a favourite of Southgate’s.

Conor Coady was another controversial selection at centre-back, with former Chelsea centre-back Fikayo Tomori missing out. That’s despite Tomori playing a key part in AC Milan’s Serie A title win last season, playing in 30 of their 38 games. Beyond that, Tomori has also remained a consistent performer this season, but he has been overlooked, along with AS Roma striker Tammy Abraham, with only one player - Jude Bellingham - from outside the Premier League getting the nod.

The centre-back selections have been by far the most controversial, and it was disussed by Mills and Lianne Sanderson on talkSport on Thursday. Mills was in Maguire’s corner, but his reasoning left Sanderson shaking her head in disbelief, and Tomori-sympathising Chelsea fans may well do the same.

Here is the debate in full:

Mills: “To go in with someone who hasn’t played or a new centre-back pairing is highly unlikely. He knows what Harry Maguire can deliver. He knows how he will deal with that mental pressure. In my opinion, he was guaranteed to be in the squad, and he is pretty much a guaranteed starter.”

Sanderson: “Don’t you think Southgate is putting the pressure on Maguire himself? Against Germany, the mistakes happened, and everyone will come for him. So, he’s playing with fire a little bit.”

Mills: “Who do you play instead?”

Sanderson: “There’s many players I would play ahead of Maguire. Ben White?”

Mills: “None of them have played an international level. You have no idea how they are going to react. To throw young players in, or players that are very einexperienced, into a World Cup is highly unlikely.”

Sanderson: “Don’t you think taking so many players who are not in form, like Maguire who hasn’t been in form for about two seasons, to a World Cup, I get what you are saying, but if starts that first game and he makes a mistake, like he did against Germany, like he has for the last two seasons. Then what? Don’t you think Southgate is creating a situation for himself here?”

Mills: “Who is in form?”

Sanderson: “Ben White? There are plenty of other players. Tomori?”

Mills: “Uhh, Tomori is not ready. I don’t see enough of Tomori, but he’s not...”

Sanderson: “Why does Maguire get held to a higher and different standard? You say you don’t see Tomori, but what do you see of Maguire that makes you think he deserves to start?”

Mills: “Because he has played, he has experience. He has been there, seen there and done it, and he didn’t play in the six weeks leading up.”

Sanderson: *Shakes head*.