Roy Keane breaks character with show of sympathy for Harry Maguire

Roy Keane displayed a rare show of sympathy for Manchester United captain Harry Maguire following a horrendous first-half display at Nottingham Forest. The experienced England international was back into the starting XI for the trip to the City Ground with team-mates Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez both sidelined through injury and it’s safe to say his performance was hardly convincing.

Maguire was booked inside just three minutes after hauling down Taiwo Awoniyi, wrestling the forward to the ground as Forest attempted to launch a counter-attack.

He then misplaced an easy pass off the field and his shaky play seemed to spur on the home crowd, who began to mock the £80million centre-back with jeers whenever he touched the ball.

After later putting it behind for a corner, Maguire’s afternoon nearly took another turn for the worse when he handled inside the area following a lofted Forest cross to the back post.

Yet following a brief VAR check, Simon Hooper was given the green light to continue with play as United were handed a significant let off.

As Maguire jumped with two of his fellow defenders and goalkeeper David de Gea, the ball clearly struck his arm but fortunately for the Red Devils, they managed to get away with the incident.

United then went in 1-0 up at the break after Antony bundled home the opener and viewers were more than likely expecting ruthless pundit Keane to unleash on his former side’s vulnerable skipper.

But that was far from the case, as Keane shared his sympathy with Maguire when reviewing the Forest penalty appeal – stating he deserves the luck he received.

He said in the Sky Sports studio: “Harry, do you know what, he probably deserves that little bit of luck.

“I think obviously giving a penalty against him, you would feel for him.

“I know they’re all up there and they’re battling and you’re thinking if he does give the penalty you probably wouldn’t complain too much.

“So, he’s lucky! Oh the goalkeeper has to come and get it though.”

Maguire has had a tough time at club level this season after losing his place in Erik ten Hag’s starting XI despite an impressive showing at the World Cup with England in November and December.

And there is now a chance he could move on at the end of the season if he decides he wants to prioritise regular football.

Ten Hag insists he remains a big part of his United project and that has now been vindicated following the injuries to Varane and Martinez.

The 30-year-old could now have an integral role to play during the run-in with United still fighting for Champions League football and additional silverware on two fronts.

Maguire is suspended for next weekend’s FA Cup semi-final against Brighton, however, meaning Ten Hag will have to quickly devise a backup plan which is likely to involve Luke Shaw slotting in at centre-back again versus the Seagulls.