MAGUIRE NAMES MOST TALENTED TEAM-MATE

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has praised team-mate Marcus Rashford’s leadership skills and named him the most talented player he’s ever played with.

Harry appears in the special ‘Captains’ episode of UTD Podcast, alongside our former skipper Bryan Robson, which is available from Monday afternoon.

The pair are asked to pick their best six-a-side line-ups from a selection of Reds who have worn the armband, and Maguire had no hesitation about placing Marcus – who he has also featured alongside with England – in his team, despite stiff competition from a number of iconic forwards.

“I think as a club, you should have a captain and rely on him, but you need to spread the onus of the leadership in the group,” said Harry, when explaining why he chose the increasingly influential Rashford in his side.

“Marcus is there and he battles through every game. Obviously he’s had a bad injury but he’s battling hard to get back. He very rarely misses games.

“He’s always wanting to make himself available. I think you can see around the place, on and off the field as well, he’s excellent with his charity work, which is great to see.

“On the pitch, like I said, he’s amazed me. He’s the most talented player I’ve ever played with.”

Maguire has shared a pitch with some stellar names during his club and international career, including the likes of Leicester City's Jamie Vardy and Three Lions trio Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Raheem Sterling.

However, Harry reckons Rashford beats everyone, especially when it comes to our hypothetical small-sided game, and reiterates his view that the Wythenshawe-forward will continue to be a key figure for the Reds for years to come.

“I’ve always spoken so highly of Marcus when I have been with him in the England squad. I can’t speak highly enough of him. I think he’s going to go on to have an exceptional career.

“I don’t want to put too much pressure on him but I think he’s going to be a wonderful player for Manchester United, as he is now.

“He’s the best six-a-side player I’ve played with. Marcus is in my team and I know he’d be banging in goals left, right and centre.”

Rashford was one of two current Reds to get into Maguire’s side – to find out who the other one is, you’ll have to listen to Monday’s episode of UTD Podcast.

Paul Pogba missed out on a place in midfield, but Harry was still glowing in his praise of the World Cup winner’s ability and he expects to see more of the Frenchman when football does resume.

“He’s so big, so hard, so strong and so powerful, he has everything,” Maguire added.

“He was on my list and [I was] thinking about it, but he’s missed a lot of this season through injury so when we get going again he’s probably going to impress me even more.

“[From] what I’ve seen of him in training, he’s a phenomenal player.”