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Peter Crouch names Leicester City centre-back in his team of the year

By Harneet Singh Sethi

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - MARCH 23: Harry Maguire, Gareth Southgate manager of England and Jamie Vardy salute the travelling fans after the international friendly match between Netherlands and England at Johan Cruyff Arena on March 23, 2018 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - MARCH 23: Harry Maguire, Gareth Southgate manager of England and Jamie Vardy salute the travelling fans after the international friendly match between Netherlands and England at Johan Cruyff Arena on March 23, 2018 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /
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Peter Crouch has named England and Leicester City centre-back Harry Maguire in his Premier League team of the year.

The Stoke City forward’s team selection has raised a few eyebrows, prompting reactions of all kinds, but the Leicester City fans will be delighted at the inclusion of their star defender.

Crouch picked Maguire as one of the two centre-backs in a 4-4-2, the other three being Manchester City’s Kyle Walker and Nicolas Otamendi, and Manchester United’s Ashley Young. Here’s the 37-year old’s complete team of the year:

David de Gea (GK)

Kyle Walker (RB)

Nicolas Otamendi (CB)

Harry Maguire (CB)

Ashley Young (LB)

Mohamed Salah (RM)

Kevin de Bruyne (CM)

David Silva (CM)

Eden Hazard (LM)

Harry Kane (ST)

Sergio Aguero (ST)

In his exclusive column for the Daily Mail, he wrote:

"“I singled out Maguire in my first column for Sportsmail in November and he’s only enhanced his reputation since. Otamendi, meanwhile, has come on so much under Pep Guardiola.“While Walker is an obvious choice on the right, some of you will be surprised by Ashley Young but, right now, he is the best left back in the country and he will get votes because of his form. He’s been very solid.“Would I pick this as the best back four in the league? Probably not. But they are the four players who deserve the recognition for the seasons they have had”."

While Harry Maguire may not necessarily be a team of the year contender, no one can deny that he has been immense this season, and that has been rightly rewarded with an England call-up.

In 30 Premier League appearances this season, he has averaged more clearances and blocks than Nicolas Otamendi (per WhoScored), who has probably been the best centre-back this season, while he is not far behind in terms of interceptions and tackles per game either.

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And that’s exactly why both the Manchester clubs are reportedly after Harry Maguire as both look to bolster their defence for next season. Come the summer transfer window, one can be sure that there will be more clubs interested in the 25-year old.

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