Harry Maguire, a struggling defender for Manchester United, has been dubbed the best defender in England right now by manager Gareth Southgate.

There is currently no one better than the Manchester United player, according to Southgate, so he won't hesitate to choose him for the senior national team.

Maguire, 29, has only been a bench warmer at Old Trafford this season, so the England manager's decision to select him for England's Nations League games against Italy and Germany has generated a lot of discussion.

Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, has dropped the former Leicester City star to the bench after he started for the Red Devils against Brighton and Brentford earlier in the season.

The Dutchman now favors the backline lineup of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane, and the choice has been successful.

There have been calls for the Man United defender to be dropped from the national team, but Southgate believes Maguire is still one of the top English defenders.

“You always have to back your judgement and we feel he is an important player,” Southgate told reporters.

“If we thought there were experienced players ready to step in and play at a level above him, there would be a different consideration, and in some positions, there would be a different level of competition in that way."

“He is our most dominant aerial centre-back. He and John [Stones] are incredible with the ball.”