Rio Ferdinand hails Manchester United star who has passed very ‘difficult’ test ahead of Man Utd derby

Harry Maguire’s Manchester United revival has earned the defender some words of praise from Premier League legend Rio Ferdinand.

Now, forgive us if we are not getting carried away just yet. Reluctant to crown Harry Maguire’s recent ‘Remontada’ as the greatest comeback since Matthew McConaughey went from romcom also-ran to Hollywood darling.

After all, Maguire’s stand-out recent performances have come against not elite-level opposition but Brentford, Sheffield United, Copenhagen, and Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup.

But still, Manchester United supporters with only an ounce of joy in their hearts would struggle to begrudge Maguire his moment in the sun, a thumping header befitting of Nemanja Vidic or Steve Bruce keeping the Red Devils’ Champions League hopes alive in midweek.

And Ferdinand, speaking to the Manchester Evening News, is delighted by the way Maguire has bounced back, stripped of the captaincy and stripped of his dignity yet keeping his head down and his shoulders square.

Harry Maguire is outstanding for Manchester United
“(Maguire) has had to show character,” Ferdinand smiles. “He’s never been in the situation before, so he’s had to respond to it in the right way.

“He’s obviously been training well and keeping himself in good condition. And that’s what you need to do when you’re not in the team. It’s quite difficult to do that, and he’s done that.

“The opportunity has come back around. And, as long as his form continues the way it is, I’m sure he’ll be fine. He’ll be all right. The manager knows he can put him in and he’s performing well at the moment.”

Maguire now faces Man City test
It’s only two months since Manchester United accepted a £30 million bid from West Ham.

In what now feels like a sliding door moment in Maguire’s career, he’s being rewarded for that steadfast refusal to give up on his Old Trafford dream, even if the looming shadow of Manchester City this weekend threatens to pose the greatest challenge yet to Maguire’s Red Devil revival.