Harry Maguire under pressure to keep his World Cup spot after being booed during England win

You hope Harry Maguire’s got a thick skin. If not, then this might take some getting over for the embattled England defender.

In truth, there were actually a few boos here at Wembley on Saturday afternoon when Maguire’s name was read out on the PA system as England prepared to face Switzerland.

It went largely under the radar at the time; there was only really a smattering of jeers - and even so, it happened well in advance of kick-off in front of a half-empty stadium.

But there was no escaping the issue on Tuesday night; the boos were fully audible against Ivory Coast.

First, prior to first whistle when his name was confirmed as starter, and just in case Maguire hadn’t clocked, there were more during his first touch of the ball.

The merits of a group of fans jeering one of their own players is an altogether different argument.

What does it achieve? Not very much. Are those that booed well educated on Maguire’s season? Probably not.

But for some reason, England supporters need a target: it just so happens that Maguire’s in their crosshairs.

That’s life for the central defender right now. This intentional break was supposed to provide momentary solace following his tribulations at domestic level.

Instead, those troubles were rammed down his throat by the very people hailing him as a national hero during last summer’s unforgettable run to the European Championship finals.

Football’s a fickle business. Maguire found out first hand on Tuesday night.

It should provide the centre-half with at least some comfort that the barracking wasn’t sustained; indeed you would imagine the boos were more likely a simple case of bandwagon jumping than anything more sinister.

By the end of the first-half, the 29-year-old was even garnering some applause, first for immaculately controlling an awkward ball falling out the air.

One driving run from deep inside his own half to beyond the halfway line after elegantly dropping his shoulder was also deemed worthy of the supporters' adulation.

All that might no sound much, but it will mean everything to Maguire.

Baby steps; maybe that’s his best route back to the form Gareth Southgate believes he is capable of.

In the face of difficult questioning, the England manager has staunchly defended Maguire during the past 10 days. Rightly so.

He’s been one of the brightest lights of Southgate’s successful six year reign; it’s only correct he shows one of his most trusted foot soldiers a level of loyalty.

But quite how loyal Southgate can continue to be if Maguire’s club form doesn’t improve in the lead up to the World Cup is another question.

Of course, the national team head coach will hope it doesn’t come to that.

Equally, however, Southgate should be preparing for the unthinkable. The emergence of Marc Guehi at Crystal Palace, who by all accounts has deeply impressed Southgate on his first international call up, provides Southgate with an intriguing option.

Conor Coady, Tyrone Mings, Fikayo Tomori and Ben White will also harbour genuine aspirations of replacing the troubled defender in the heart of England’s rearguard alongside John Stones should Southgate decide Maguire’s place is vulnerable.

The good news for the £80million man is that he has time to steady the ship. Maguire will now return to Old Trafford in hope of repairing his shattered confidence.

The unpredictability that has engulfed United’s season so far is hardly the sort of platform Maguire would find conducive to piecing himself together.

Under Ralph Rangnick, there’s been little indication of those conditions improving between now and the end of the season meaning Maguire has no option but to make the best of a difficult situation.

But there’s no reason why he can’t. And who knows what next season might bring. A new club manager, renewed hope but above all else - better performances.

What Maguire knows for sure is that he has eight months to turn it round.

Is he capable? Of course he is. You don’t get to captain Manchester United, play in a World Cup semi-final and a European Championship final if you’re not.

But has he got the minerals to emerge out of his worrying slump? Southgate will be banking on his key defender silencing the boos once and for all.