I've seen Dan Ashworth's methods up close - this is what could change at Manchester United

Gary Neville has provided insight into the impact he has seen Dan Ashworth make amid continued links of a switch to Manchester United.

United identified Ashworth as the number one candidate for the inaugural sporting director role at Old Trafford. The 52-year-old has held the same position at Newcastle since 2022 but is understood to have expressed a desire to make the switch to Manchester.

Newcastle announced on Monday that the club had placed Ashworth on gardening leave after expressing a desire to leave the club. The news means that Ashworth moved a step closer to becoming the sporting director at United, but it's understood that he will serve a lengthy gardening leave that could be at least 12 months beforehand.

United are yet to agree on compensation for Newcastle for their sporting director who only joined the club from Brighton last that two years ago. Ashworth has previously worked at West Brom and the FA, where he worked as technical director at the latter from 2012-18.

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It was during his time at the FA that Neville had first-hand experience of working alongside Ashworth. The United legend was an assistant coach to England manager Roy Hodgson from 2012-16 and has explained the impact of the changes that Ashworth put in place behind the scenes.

“Dan Ashworth did a good job at West Brom, but I was there with England when he was appointed, and it was a big change when he came in," Neville said on Sky Sports' Stick to Football podcast.

"It was quite a jolt at the time for Roy Hodgson to have a technical director like Dan