Gary Neville names three 'really struggling' players amid 'highly questionable' Man United transfers

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has claimed new head coach Ruben Amorim has "sobered up quickly" following a gruelling start to his time in the Old Trafford dugout.

United ended a run of defeats with their win in the Europa League vs Viktoria Plzen in midweek, after suffering disappointment against Arsenal and Nottingham Forest in their previous two Premier League outings. Rasmus Hojlund's second-half double avoided an upset to the minnows after they took the lead shortly after the restart.

The newly-appointed Portuguese tactician has been thrusted into a difficult situation with United suffering their worst ever Premier League points total after 15 games and he faces a fight to break into the top half of the table, competing for the European places.

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"It's probably wrong to put it on the players over the last few months, because I've said this has been a graveyard for players and managers for the last 10 years," Neville said on Sky Sports.

"You can be enthused about Ugarte, Zirkzee, De Ligt or Di Maria, Alexis Sanchez six [or] seven years ago, all those players who came from the door and you thought; 'They'd do a good job', they've ended up really struggling. Only Bruno in the 10 years has hit a level that has exceeded expectation and Amorim's finding that in his first few weeks.

"He's finding that it's not a quick answer, he came in drunk with enthusiasm, we loved the way he brought energy, but he's sobered up pretty quickly watching these players play."

Neville added: "I was encouraged about Dan Ashworth and others coming into the club because I have been crying out for change