Yet as Gareth Southgate surveys his 33-man training party ahead of Euro 2024, there’s one surprising stat that might lead you to the opposite conclusion.
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And ironically it concerns a Manchester United team-mate of Marcus Rashford – the biggest name axed.
Fans perusing the facts and figures over Southgate‘s provisional squad were shocked to see the list of England’s highest scorers.
Way out in front of course is skipper Harry Kane with the Three Lions’ all-time record of 62 – from 89 appearances.
Arsenal marauder Bukayo Saka is comfortably in second place, albeit with “just” 11 in 32 games.
But it’s who comes next that raises eyebrows even higher than the man in question jumps in the penalty box.
Step forward – and leap up – Harry Maguire!
The centre-back, 31, has bagged seven goals in 63 internationals, mainly via his dynamic heading ability.
Maguire has won round old Trafford boss Erik ten Hag after struggling for game-time early in the season.
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And although he’s a leader on the pitch, it’s the quiet way he knuckled down to the challenge that has impressed most observers.
Maguire has been an England regular pretty much since making his debut in 2017, a year into Southgate’s reign.
He switched from Leicester to the Red Devils for £85million in 2019, a then-world record for a defender.
And after a honeymoon period there were a few wobbles at United.
But for England his consistency has rarely dropped.
And he became a fans’ favourite at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Partly that was because he was snapped during downtime riding an inflatable unicorn.
But mostly it was due to rousing performances capped by a soaring, scoring header in the 2-0 quarter-final win over Sweden.
Nonetheless, supporters are intrigued to see an England squad packed with frontline options where Maguire is so high up the goal list.
Manchester City’s Phil Foden is fourth with four goals.
Then come five stars on three – Real Madrid’s main man Jude Bellingham, Aston Villa’s bang-in-form forward Ollie Watkins and Arsenal anchorman Declan Rice, plus defenders Luke Shaw and John Stones.
And don’t forget, Southgate’s squad also includes flair players like Jack Grealish, James Maddison and Cole Palmer, plus Brentford striker Ivan Toney and an exciting batch of rookies.
One fan posted: “THE THIRD HIGHEST GOAL SCORER IS HARRY MAGUIRE” – followed by shocked emojis.”
Another posted: “This squad lacks goalscorers which is why he should’ve taken Rashford instead of Grealish, I mean you already have Saka and Foden if you want creativity, that decision might bite him.”
And a third responded: “Yet another reason why you have to take Rashford.”
Meanwhile, as that selection debate rages on, you can expect Maguire to once again just let his feet – and head – do the talking.
