England captain’s impact is sorely felt in matches without him, says Manchester United’s Harry Maguire

Harry Maguire has described Harry Kane as the “best striker in the world” and admitted that England truly miss his presence when he is not on the pitch.

Despite Kane not scoring in England’s 1-1 draw with North Macedonia on Monday, the Bayern Munich forward’s impact was still evident. Just 40 seconds after coming on as a substitute, Kane’s aerial presence contributed to an own goal that helped England level the match. He had also netted in Friday’s 2-0 victory against Malta.

The Manchester United defender stated, “For me, he’s the best striker in the world. We miss him when he’s not on the pitch. He’s not just our goalscorer, but our captain and leader. His role has been crucial for us.” Kane’s 21 goals in his last 24 matches for England underline his importance, making him the nation’s all-time top scorer with 62 goals in 89 appearances.

Kane’s goal tally for both club and country in 2023 is second only to Erling Haaland, with 47 goals to Haaland’s 48.

Maguire continued to praise Kane’s consistency, saying, “He’s been proving himself as one of the best strikers in the world for years. Even after his move to Bayern Munich, he’s still delivering the same clinical performances. His movement, ability to score from any angle, and leadership on the field are unmatched.”

Kane and Maguire are set to face each other when Manchester United play Bayern Munich at Old Trafford on December 12 in the Champions League group-stage finale. Reflecting on their previous encounter, when Bayern triumphed 4-3, Maguire said, “We need to find a way to contain him if we want to win at home.”