Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend thinks Harry Maguire should retain his Manchester United captaincy.
The 27-year-old defender was given a suspended prison sentence after he was found guilty of aggravated assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery following an altercation on the Greek island of Mykonos last week.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Townsend believes Maguire deserved to keep the United armband.
He said: "I think so. I think, like I said, Harry Maguire comes across as an honest man. Gareth Southgate believes his side of the story.
"Manchester United have come out and defended him. So whatever happens I am sure he will still keep the captaincy - and so he should.
"I definitely think football will be a release for him. Once you step on that pitch, no matter what your issues are, no matter how serious your issues are, your issues just go away for 90 minutes.
"You just go back to being a kid in the playground and doing what you love. I definitely think football will be a release for him.
"I know he has got a great club in Manchester United. They will stand by him. They'll protect him and build a wall around him so he doesn't really get that abuse, which like you said is most likely to come to him.
"Hopefully he can clear his name during that time and get back to normality."
