Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen has been 'disrespected', says former Red

Paul Parker believes the quietly influential Christian Eriksen has been a bigger miss than expected at Manchester United - and the absence of discussion around him is disrespectful.

Eriksen is expected to be out until at least April after picking up a serious ankle injury in the FA Cup clash with Reading in January. The experienced midfielder had been near ever-present for the first portion of the campaign, his 31 appearances yielding two goals and nine assists.

United boss Erik ten Hag suffered a minor midfield crisis in the weeks that followed, with an injury to Scott McTominay and Casemiro's first suspension leaving him short of options during the first half of February.

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Those worries have been alleviated with the loan signing of Marcel Sabitzer and the resurgence of Fred as Eriksen's regular replacement - although Parker believes no one can offer the same level of control as the Dane.

“The blow of missing Christian Eriksen has been bigger than expected," Parker told SpilXperten. "And the fact that no one is talking about it makes me feel that he is being disrespected.

“He is a very important player but no one notices it. He controls the pace of the game, he is the one to decide if Man United are going to attack or just relax on the ball.

“I would say that Man United is less capable of controlling games when he is not there. Fred and Sabitzer are brilliant players but they don't have the same brain as he does.

“But of course, Man United has made some really good results without him and that might be the reason why no one is talking about him. But I have to say that Eriksen would make a good Man United team to a great Man United team.”

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