Manchester United missed Christian Eriksen in yesterday’s 0-0 draw against Newcastle United at Old Trafford, says Gary Neville.
Had the Danish playmaker, who joined the Red Devils on a free transfer, been fit, he would have likely partnered Casemiro in the heart of United’s midfield once again.
But with United’s number 14 not featuring for the twenty-time league champions this season, Ten Hag opted to start Fred alongside his Brazilian compatriot with Scott McTominay ruled out due to suspension.
Manchester United missed Christian Eriksen against Newcastle
It’s testament to the impact Eriksen has already made at the club that United’s lacked invention and looked a tad one-dimensional without the Scandinavian midfield maestro conducting the orchestra.
Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast, United’s former right-back spoke about how important Eriksen is to Ten Hag’s side, and how he “glues the team together”.
Neville said: “Eriksen didn’t play and it looked like they missed him. They had Fred, Casemiro and Fernandes, and when they’ve been doing really well apart from City, who are just a phenomenal team, Eriksen has been a big player.
“And when he doesn’t play – you maybe realise how big of a player he is because he connects and glues the team together, and he’s got [the ability to] pass through the lines quickly.
“He sees things, he’s looking over his shoulder and he’s scanning all the time – it’s Paul Scholes who told me that by the way.
“With him you just don’t fall upon Fernandes, you’ve got two of them then, and I just thought the balance was wrong in the midfield in the first half.
“It just didn’t look like the same fluidity when he’s in the team.
Ten Hag will hope that Eriksen is fit enough to return to face his former side Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.
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