Beckham's support 'meant everything' to Maguire in testing times

Under-fire Harry Maguire has revealed former England captain David Beckham got in touch with him after last month's Hampden Park hounding to help offer support and advice.

Just over two years after being a Manchester United ever-present and part of the European Championship team of the tournament, the 30-year-old defender now finds himself as the butt of jokes.

Many opposing fans have revelled in Maguire's drop off and Scotland supporters goaded him mercilessly after coming on and scoring an own goal in England's 3-1 win last month.

Maguire immediately laughed it off as a "little bit of banter" but hearing from somebody that knows a thing or two about intense criticism meant the world to him.

Few have faced sharper focus in an England shirt than Beckham, who has laid bare the pain he suffered after his 1998 World Cup red card against Argentina in a new Netflix documentary.

Maguire said: "I actually spoke with David about three weeks ago, after the Scotland game.

"He got in touch with me, so it was really nice of him and I really appreciated that. It meant everything.

"I've spoken throughout my career about David Beckham being someone I looked up to and watched when I was a young boy.

"Unfortunately, I didn't end up on the right wing scoring and assisting as many goals as he has. But he was a big role model when I was growing up.

"It shows how classy he is to reach out to me and to message me. It was something I really appreciated. It was touching really."

Maguire did not want to divulge too much about their conversation but said the "main thing" Beckham did was to remind him of his career to date and the big moments he has enjoyed.

He said at St George's Park: "I think when you're going through tough moments you've got to go through past experiences and past memories and where you've gone in your career and what you've been through.

"Every career is so up and down, especially when you reach what I've reached, in terms of being the captain of the biggest club in the world for three-and-a-half years."