Thomas Tuchel has been told he has to take Manchester United centre-back Harry Maguire to the World Cup this summer.
The Three Lions boss has not called up Maguire for any of the international breaks since he took over as manager in October 2024.
But the defender is sure to enter Tuchel’s mind for selection after storming back into headlines with two superb performances.
After coming back from injury halfway through January, Maguire has starred under Man United‘s interim boss Michael Carrick.
A clean sheet against Manchester City was followed by a Man of the Match showing at the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal on Sunday.
And now, he’s been tipped to be called up to the England squad for the 2026 World Cup, which gets started on June 11.
“I’m Harry Maguire’s biggest fan,” talkSPORT host Andy Goldstein said on Drive on Monday evening.
“I thought he was brilliant yesterday and against Man City as well, I thought he was absolutely brilliant.
“We’re not blessed in that area for England and if he carries on like that, he has to go to the World Cup.”
Co-host Darren Bent added: “My first two at the moment would be Ezri Konsa and Marc Guehi – they’ve both been outstanding.
“John Stones will come into the equation, but then you look around and think, alright, Maguire has been to World Cups before, if he plays from now until the end of the season, and plays well, I don’t see why he wouldn’t go.
“But it’s a weird one, as you would bring him… but he’s not been better than the other two and it’d feel weird to bring him as a sub.”
When did Maguire last play for England?
Maguire has a total of 64 caps for his country, last appearing under stand-in boss Lee Carsley in September 2024.
It means it’s been well over a year since he put on the England shirt, with Tuchel not calling him up in recent breaks.
That has largely come down to his injury issues though, following multiple spells on the sidelines throughout 2025.
Tuchel admitted last March that it was Maguire’s lack of fitness that saw him left out of the squad selection at the time.
But now that he’s fit again and capturing attention with Man United, he will likely become a contender for the World Cup.
The 32-year-old has made 12 World Cup appearances for England across the 2018 and 2022 campaigns.
‘He’s never let England down’
Man United legend and Maguire’s former manager, Steve Bruce, has backed the calls for him to return to the England set-up.
Bruce said on talkSPORT: “We all know that Maguire has never let England or Man United down.
“He’s been the scapegoat, Harry. Everything that’s gone wrong with United, it’s been Harry, he can’t do this, can’t do that.
“He’s come back in after injury and looks a very decent player, which he has always been, whether playing for England or United.
“If you’ve got a problem and you’re looking for someone as a centre-back, then why wouldn’t you look at Harry?
“We all know how good he’s been over the years.”
United teammate to follow?
Maguire has been tipped for a Three Lions return, but his Man United teammate has also been mentioned for a World Cup call.
“Do you think Luke Shaw could go?” Bent asked Goldstein.
He replied: “Well, we’re not blessed with left-backs…”
Bent then added: “I looked at him yesterday and I thought every time Saka got the ball: ‘Go at him’. And that rarely happened.
“I look at him and think Myles Lewis-Skelly isn’t playing, Lewis Hall is brilliant, Nico O’Reilly is brilliant, but after that, maybe there’s an opportunity for Luke Shaw.
“If he plays like this, he’s got a chance.”
