United treble winner Wes Brown says he thinks it’s still very unclear who Manchester United’s first choice midfield pairing will be this season despite Manuel Ugarte’s arrival.
In an exclusive interview with The Peoples Person via InstantCasino, Brown was asked whether he was surprised by Christian Eriksen’s regular game time at the start of the new campaign.
“Yeah a little bit!,” he said.
“He didn’t feature as much [last season] but I think when someone’s playing well, he’s experienced, I think the manager’s more than likely to play him at that time.
“We know he won’t play every game. But I think the manager trusts him. But we’ve not got who’s going to play midfield yet. Ugarte? What’s that main three? Which works the best? I don’t think the manager knows that yet and it’s up to the players now to really show they should be in the team. Really step up.
“Believe me, when I played, if I was playing really well I could keep Gary Neville out for a while, but when I played rubbish, Gary Neville would be straight back in and I’d be waiting for my opportunity again.
“It’s healthy competition. That’s where Eriksen is at the moment and it’s how long he can keep it going.”
“I think Kobbie’s played a lot as well, so even if it’s just a week rest, just mentally, I always thought it helped.”
Asked whether he felt a Ugarte – Mainoo combination lacked passing range, he replied:
“Yeah, and the manager in training, he’ll probably try and put different people in general, but ultimately you have to do it in a game, to see if there’s a connection there.
“I think especially [against Barnsley] I know it was the League Cup, there was a lot of good movement, a lot of really good play between all six of the midfield, wing and strikers, so maybe he’s just looking at that for a little bit.
“But when Eriksen’s playing well, he’s getting a little bit older, I think you play him.”
Eriksen is likely to be rested for what should be a relatively straightforward home match against FC Twente tomorrow. But it will be interesting to see whether he starts against his old club Spurs on Sunday in a crunch Premier League game.
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The post Wes Brown says Erik ten Hag still doesn’t know his best midfield combination appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.