SLABSOLUTELY FABULOUS

Carrick hails Maguire as 'better than ever'

- BY TYRONE MARSHALL

MICHAEL CARRICK labelled Harry Maguire “better than ever” at the age of 32 and said he hoped the centre-back would extend his Old Trafford career.

Maguire - nicknamed ‘Slab-Head’ by Jamie Vardy when he was at Leicester — returned to the Manchester United side in Carrick’s first game in charge and has kept his place ever since, producing a string of excellent performances that have put him in the frame for an England recall.

The 32-year-old is heading into the final three months of his contract and talks are yet to progress over an extension, but there is an expectation Maguire will stay. His form for Carrick has made the strongest possible case that he is deserving of a new deal.