Ferdinand believes the Manchester United captain’s injury could be a hindrance to the England squad at the Euros.
Maguire sustained an ankle ligament tear during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side 3-1 win over Aston Villa in May. The former Leicester City man was forced to stay out of the Red Devils’ last few Premier League games along with the crucial Europa League final where the English side lost to Villarreal.
Southgate named four other right-backs in the name of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker and Chelsea’s Reece James.
The England head coach is planning of playing three back and Ferdinand believes Maguire should have been omitted from the list in order to give chances to other options.
Ferdinand ranted on the FIVE podcast: “[Southgate] needed another centre-back. This [squad] tells me that he’s going to play three at the back, 100 per cent, definitely playing three at the back.”
“Kyle Walker can play right-centre-half, he can play Reece James at right-centre-half, Luke Shaw [can play] left-centre-half, Tyrone Mings, [John] Stones.”
“Maguire’s not even fit, I wouldn’t even take Maguire. You’re not fit, you’re not going to be fit for ages. It doesn’t make sense.”
“I’ve been in squads where you take players that ain’t fully fit and they don’t normally come and perform, I’m sorry. It happened with Becks (David Beckham), it happened with Wazza (Wayne Rooney)… they’re not themselves.”
“Harry Maguire, as good as he is, he isn’t a Becks and he certainly ain’t a Rooney. I just think you shouldn’t take someone who isn’t 100% fit like that. I don’t care who you are, it’s hard to come back and get into a rhythm.”
“That narrative ends up taking over the squad and it becomes the conversation and a distraction. Do we really need that? It’s pointless I think. Hopefully, he proves me wrong, I would love it if he did.”
