"Things haven't got much better" - Martin Keown claims Manchester United star has been scapegoated by club's fans

Martin Keown reckons Harry Maguire is being made a scapegoat by Manchester United fans. He added that the team hasn't seen much improvement since he was dropped by Erik ten Hag.

Maguire is enduring a difficult spell at Old Trafford after being frozen out of the first team by Ten Hag. He was stripped of the club's captaincy earlier this summer and sits behind Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof in the pecking order.

It's fair to say that many Manchester United fans were pleased when the 30-year-old was taken out of the starting lineup. His only appearance this season is a 23-minute cameo in his side's 3-1 Premier League loss to Arsenal on Sunday (September 3).

However, Keown says that the Old Trafford faithful have made Maguire a scapegoat amid the club's poor form. He also doesn't think that the team has improved since Maguire was dropped by Ten Hag, telling talkSPORT:

"I do feel he gets a lot of unfair criticism and I do feel he's a scapegoat for the Manchester United supporters. I do feel that things haven't got much better since he came out of the team."

The pundit continued by claiming that midfield is an issue for the Red Devils at the moment:

"Some of us talk about driving buses through football teams, and, I think, you could do that right now with Manchester United. It's through midfield that's the issue, and Harry Maguire isn't neccesarilly the problem."

Maguire joined United from Leicester City in 2019 for £85 million, which is a world record for a defender. He was made captain by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer shortly afterwards, and both his fee and that appointment had been a burden on the player.

The veteran defender's performances have been constantly under the microscope, and he has often been largely blamed for his side's dismal showings since his arrival in 2019.

However, Red Devils fans can't blame him for the way the team have started this season, as he has rarely played. The likes of Tottenham Hotspur (2-0 defeat) and Arsenal (3-1 loss) have cut through United's midfield with ease, as Keown alluded to.

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Harry Maguire had the opportunity to leave Manchester United in the summer

Harry Maguire could have joined West Ham United in the summer.

West Ham United reportedly agreed a £30 million deal for Maguire in the summer, per Sky Sports. However, the England international opted to remain at Old Trafford and didn't agree personal terms with the Hammers.

That only led to further criticism from Manchester United fans, as David Moyes' side were willing to give his club career a lifeline. Maguire's decision to turn down the move bemused many, as he's viewed as fourth in line by Ten Hag.

Maguire has two years left in his contract with the Red Devils but is now set to continue despite being linked with a departure. He made 31 appearances across competitions last season, helping his side keep 17 clean sheets.