"You don’t play for this club if you’re not a good player," Harry Maguire said at Wednesday's pre-match press conference.

Maguire was asked by a journalist whether he had contacted teammate Joshua Zirkzee regarding the "dreadful stick he received a few weeks ago".

The defender has experienced similar scrutiny himself. In response to that question, Maguire said: "I sent him a message privately after the [Newcastle] game, and Joshua is a good player you don’t play for this club if you’re not a good player.

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"He’s got to bring that belief and that confidence out in himself, I always say in football there’s always another game and a next opportunity."

Zirkzee came on in the FA Cup third round game against Arsenal, scoring the winning penalty. Maguire said of that display: "He really changed the game for us, then to score that winning penalty probably gave him a lot of confidence and belief that he belongs at this club.

"The fans have been brilliant with him, we have amazing fans and they stick with us through thick and thin. When times are tough they really get behind you and support you. I’ve felt that and Josh, I’m sure, would’ve been feeling that over the recent weeks."

As Manchester United face Rangers in the Europa League on Thursday night, Maguire called the match "an opportunity to put things right after Sunday". After a disappointing performance against Brighton, United need to get back on track.

"It’s not really about individuals, it’s more about as a team - we are disappointing as a team," said Maguire. United have been criticised for being a team who rely on individual moments of brilliance for far too long, yet Ruben Amorim is looking to change that by bringing a style of play and an identity to the club. Amorim will have been delighted by Maguire's comments after a frustrating start to his time at Old Trafford.

United need a win against Rangers at home to avoid adding two play-off games to their schedule. It's time for the team to step up.