England's Maguire says he can handle the jeers after Scotland 'banter'

(Reuters) - England's Harry Maguire has said he can deal with hostile treatment from opposition supporters and that it takes the pressure off his team mates after the defender was mocked by Scotland fans following his own goal on Tuesday.

The 30-year-old Manchester United centre back was brought on at halftime in Glasgow with England leading 2-0 before inadvertently handing the hosts a lifeline by clumsily prodding a low cross into his own net in the 67th minute.

Maguire described his treatment by Scottish fans as "a little bit of banter".

"It pretty much takes the pressure away from my team mates and puts it all on myself," he told British media after England's 3-1 win. "It makes them play better, for sure.

"We knew coming here, when you hear the national anthem and the way they disrespect that, we knew it would be hostile and in the second half I got most of it.

"I am happy to go with that, don't worry about that."

Maguire, who joined United from Leicester City for 80 million pounds ($99.94 million) in 2019, was stripped of the club captaincy by manager Erik ten Hag in July.

He has struggled for first-team football at the Premier League side and was linked with a move away from Old Trafford in the close season.

"The first four weeks were hard because it was one game a week and the manager (Erik ten Hag) didn't select me, but we have lots of games coming up now and I am sure I will play lots of games," he said.

'TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE'

In an Instagram post on Thursday, Maguire's mother Zoe slammed the abuse directed towards her son.

"As a mum seeing the level of negative and abusive comments which my son is receiving from some fans, pundits and the media is disgraceful and totally unacceptable to any walk of life...," she wrote.

"I was there in the stand as usual, it's not acceptable what's been created, over nothing.

"I understand that in the football world there are ups and downs, positives and negatives but what Harry receives has gone far beyond "football". For me seeing him go through what he's going through is not ok..."

After the win over Scotland, England manager Gareth Southgate defended Maguire, saying the treatment he received from fans was "a joke".