Harry Maguire confident he will "play lots of games" at club level this season

Harry Maguire is confident that he will be given plenty of opportunities for Manchester United this season.

The centre-back was widely expected to leave Old Trafford over the summer, having had the captain's armband taken away from him due to his struggles during the 2021-22 campaign.

West Ham United had an offer, thought to be in the region of £30m, accepted by Man United for the defender, but he decided to remain at Old Trafford.

The 30-year-old has only played once at club level this season, appearing off the bench against Arsenal before the international break after Lisandro Martinez was forced off through injury.

Maguire could potentially be in line to face Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, as Raphael Varane is still out, while Martinez is struggling with a foot problem, which could mean a start for him alongside Victor Lindelof in the middle of the defence.

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The defender scored an own goal during England's 3-1 win over Scotland on Tuesday, with Three Lions head coach Gareth Southgate leaping to his defence after the match, slamming the ongoing criticism of the former Sheffield United youngster.

Maguire's future at club level remains unclear, but he is confident that he will "play lots of games" for the 20-time English champions this term.

"I know when I have not started a game in the first four games of the season, the story comes to me," BBC Sport quotes Maguire as saying.

"I finished off last season with two very strong performances for England and I have played in all five matches to help put us where we are in qualifying, so I need to keep performing when I get chosen. At club football, I want to play games, I want to play football.

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"The first four weeks were hard because it was one game a week and the manager didn't select me, but we have lots of games coming up now and I am sure I will play lots of games."

Maguire also insisted that he can handle the reaction from opposition fans, with some Scotland supporters mocking him during the international friendly.

"It pretty much takes the pressure away from my teammates and puts it all on myself," he said. "It makes them play better, for sure. It is a little bit of banter and it is a hostile environment, coming away to Scotland.

"We knew coming here, when you hear the national anthem and the way they disrespect that, we knew it would be hostile and in the second half I got most of it. I am happy to go with that, don't worry about that."

Four of Maguire's last five matches have come for England, but Man United are now heading into a busy run of matches, which could open the door for the defender to work his way into the new campaign.