'I always knew I'd find my form and regain my focus'

Maguire repays Southgate's faith with exemplary displays

- MARK CRITCHLEY

To ward off the monotony that can build between games during the long weeks away at a major tournament, England's players have been passing the time by trying their hand at Werewolf.

A murder strategy game based on lies and deception, those chosen as "wolves" have to kill off as many "villagers" as possible while the villagers have to detect and identify the wolves. One member of the squad has stood head and shoulders above the rest, revealing himself as something of a super sleuth. "I'm quite good at psychology, to be honest," admits Harry Maguire. "I've needed to be over the last year or so."

While Maguire puts his Werewolf prowess partly down to an analytical mind, it is mostly due to past experience. "I've played it before as well, I must say. When I was at Leicester, we played the game a lot and the more you play the game the more you see. You get to look at what people are doing, how they're acting."

And the England defender has found those to be transferable skills, if not on the pitch then certainly off it. "I think especially being in my position, it's really important to know who you can trust," he says. "You build relationships over your career and I feel I know now who I can speak to, who I can trust. I've a lot of people I can trust, that's for sure."

The past year has been the most challenging of Maguire's career, a time when he has had to keep his friends, teammates and those who believe in his ability close. He arrived in Qatar as the captain of Manchester United but not a regular starter, his struggles for form having finally cost him his place at club level. Many questioned whether he should be included in Gareth Southgate's 26-man squad, let alone keep his spot at the heart of England's defence.