Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag agrees with Roy Keane over players who 'shouldn't be at club'

Erik ten Hag could well make some major decisions on certain players over the next few weeks after the Manchester United boss reiterated Roy Keane's comments that some players 'shouldn’t be at the club.'

United were forced to field a much-changed starting line-up for their 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest on Sunday, with a raft of injuries seeing seven regular first-team players unavailable. Tyrell Malacia was a surprise omission from the squad due to a sore knee, and Ten Hag was limited further when Marcel Sabitzer felt an issue in the warm-up.

The pair joined the likes of Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford in watching from the sidelines as several of the club's fringe players were required to step up. Speaking on Harry Maguire on Victor Lindelof before the game, Keane suggested the pair 'shouldn't be at the club' if they cannot step in competently.

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"I think they always are [playing for their futures]," Keane told Sky Sports. "These lads are not first choice but the reason they’re at Man United is when you get your opportunity you take it. These are experienced international footballers so coming in against a Forest team which are struggling, you’d expect them to perform.

"Obviously they need the players in front of them to give them some sort of protection, but listen, Maguire and Lindelof, you’re playing for Man United for a reason, we expect you to deal with a Forest attack or else you shouldn’t be at the club."

And while Keane's quotes were about the defensive pair, they can easily be attributed to a number of fringe players who will be tasked with stepping into the first-team picture between now and the season's end.