Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has sent a clear message to defender Harry Maguire, urging him to fight for his place after he was stripped of the club’s captaincy.

Maguire had been Manchester United’s captain since former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gave him the armband in January 2020.

But Ten Hag recently took the captain’s armband from the England center-back and gave it to Bruno Fernandes.

Losing the club’s captaincy has sparked fresh speculation that Maguire will leave Old Trafford, but Ten Hag has now insisted that the former Leicester City star remains an important member of the squad.

“We respect Harry. He’s very important for this squad and for this team,” Ten Hag said, as quoted by Metro UK.

“I talked about consistency, and we know we can’t do it with eleven players, so I am happy we have four very good center-backs.

“And we will need them, and he has to fight for his place, as he did last year. He has a high potential, so I am sure he will do it; he will fight for his place, and then it is up to him.”