Gary Neville names two players who could decide Manchester United's season

Former captain Gary Neville believes the success Manchester United could enjoy between now and the end of the season rests on the form of centre-backs Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof.

The pair started alongside each other in the heart of the defence for Sunday's 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, filling in for Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez, who both missed the trip to the Midlands through injury. The former is expected to be sidelined for a few weeks while Martinez is out for the remainder of the campaign after fracturing a metatarsal bone in his foot during Thursday's 2-2 draw with Sevilla at Old Trafford.

Much of United's success so far this season has been built on their much-improved defensive standards, with the partnership of Varane and Martinez proving key. They have formed an excellent partnership in the heart of the defence, positioning themselves at the top of manager Erik ten Hag's pecking order.

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Maguire and Lindelof, despite both being vastly experienced, have not played as much football as they would have liked this season, meaning pressure is on them to deliver the goods and see United through until the end of the season, although they hope to soon recover Varane as soon as possible. Nevertheless, Neville insists their contributions will be key in United's ambitions of finishing the campaign with a flourish.

Neville, speaking on his Sky Sports podcast, said: "Look, for Manchester United we can whinge a little bit, but I don't think it would go anywhere by saying that Varane and Martinez have been the best pair - they have. United will miss them.

"But a lot of clubs would be in a lot worse position. I