Maguire can't rely on Southgate keeping faith all the way to Qatar

ENGLAND v IVORY COAST (7.45pm, Sky)

- Dan Kilpatrick

ONE of Gareth Southgate’s understated achievements as England manager has been to create an environment so stable as to almost border on dull.

Southgate is consistent and calm in every aspect of the job, and his players clearly enjoy the tranquillity of international football, particularly those coming from the relative chaos of certain high-profile clubs.

Luke Shaw underlined this dynamic when he suggested he felt more “wanted” with England than Manchester United after scoring in Saturday’s win over Switzerland.

No one is likely to be benefiting more from being in England’s bubble of stability this week than Shaw’s United’s team-mate Harry Maguire (left, in training), who is set to return to the starting XI against Ivory Coast tonight, amid the worst club form of his career.

Maguire has earned Southgate’s trust and the right to continue playing for his country with his performances at the World Cup and Euros proving that, for a core of senior players, credit in the bank remains more important than performances at club level.