Erik ten Hag has challenged Manchester United defender Harry Maguire (Photo: Getty)

Erik ten Hag has challenged Harry Maguire to replicate his English form for Manchester United after an impressive World Cup campaign.

Maguire’s place in England’s World Cup squad was in doubt as he made just one Premier League start since August when he was sent off after a dismal 4–0 defeat to Brentford.

But Gareth Southgate stuck with the 29-year-old and was rewarded with a series of guaranteed appearances, with Maguire starting all five of England’s games in Qatar before they were knocked out by France in the quarter-finals.

Maguire will hope to continue to impress when he returns to Old Trafford and rejoins the team, which Ten Hag believes he is capable of.

“I have been asked many times. It is clear that he is good enough to play at the highest level,” says Ten Hag van Maguire, who came to Leicester City for £ 80 million in 2019.

He almost always has good games for England. He had a period in Manchester where he did poorly. Then, of course, there are difficulties.

“But if he works hard, he gets that confidence. You can see that in the way he plays for England.

Maguire impressed for England at the World Cup in Qatar (Image: Getty)

“We want him to put it on the pitch for Manchester United. I expect the team to know what to expect from him. If he does, he will be a great player for us.”

Ahead of the mid-season break for the World Cup, five-time Champions League winner Raphael Varane and £57million summer signing Lisandro Martinez forged an impressive partnership as a central defender at Manchester United.

“I have two or three good players right in the middle,” added former Ajax coach Ten Hag.

“After Brentford I had to change my mindset. He was unlucky that the moment went badly for him, but that says nothing about his quality. Rapha walked in and is doing well.

“There are rules in top football. You have to seize your chance. All he has to do is train well and perform well. He has games, he has rhythm. His chance will come naturally.”

While Maguire is set to return after England’s defeat to world champions France, his United teammates Varane and Martinez remain in Qatar to prepare for the semi-finals.

Varanes France will meet Morocco on Wednesday, while Martinez’s Argentina will meet Croatia, the number two of 2018, tomorrow night.

Manchester United, fifth in the Premier League, will return to action on December 21 with a League Cup match against leader Burnley.