The former striker believes Southgate has exacerbated the situation (Picture: Getty)
Chris Sutton has hit out at Gareth Southgate over the England manager’s passionate defence of Harry Maguire and says his speech will have ‘poured petrol on the fire’.
The Manchester United centre-back’s inclusion in the Three Lions squad for this month’s internationals was criticised due to his lack of game time for the Red Devils, having made just one substitute appearance in the Premier League this season.
He was also given a particularly rough time when introduced at half-time of Tuesday’s 3-1 friendly win over Scotland, with the Hampden Park fans mocking and jeering him – particularly after he netted an own goal.
Afterwards, Southgate criticised the English media and pundits for creating the situation and branded the criticism and scrutiny Maguire has faced as a ‘joke’ in a passionate post-match press conference.
Sutton, who may have been one of the targets of Southgate’s ire after branding Maguire a ‘training ground player’, has now hit out at the England boss and believes he has made the situation even worse.
‘Southgate poured petrol on the fire with what he said after Tuesday’s game, suggesting “idiots” are to blame for the “joke” that is Harry Maguire’s situation,’ Sutton told the Daily Mail.
Maguire netted an own goal shortly after being subbed on (Picture: Reuters)
‘Southgate will have to share some of that blame now, though, because he has attracted more attention to the defender.
‘Arsenal fans celebrated when he was brought on against them. Scotland supporters cheered his every pass.
‘It went wrong for Maguire in both of those matches and he can expect more of the same treatment the next time he plays because, thanks to Southgate, rival fans know they’re getting under skins.
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‘They won’t suddenly stop their mock cheers, they will double down.
‘It would have been more beneficial for England’s manager to say it is part and parcel of being an elite footballer and that Maguire is tough enough to deal with it.
‘I’m sure he is, and I sympathise with Maguire because it is a big ask for a player who is hardly playing for his club to perform for his country. But the criticism will not stop. Certainly not now.’
MORE : Gary Neville tells Maguire to get help after latest England nightmare
MORE : Harry Maguire responds to England criticism and explains why Manchester United exit collapsed
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