Manchester United players warned ‘only one is safe’ under Ruben Amorim

Manchester United’s underperforming players have been warned that only skipper Ruben Amorim is likely to be deemed ‘safe’ under new manager Ruben Amorim.

The Sporting Lisbon boss is set to take over at Old Trafford imminently, once he fulfils his duties with Sporting Lisbon.

Amorim whetted the appetite of United fans in midweek after he masterminded Sporting’s eye-catching 4-1 Champions League win over Manchester City.

The 39-year-old will inherit a lopsided, confidence-starved squad upon his arrival and will largely be forced to work with what he has for the remainder of the season.

United have already been linked with a move for Sporting goal machine Viktor Gyokeres who has thrived under Amorim’s management but a deal for the Sweden international will have to wait until January at the earliest.

In the meantime, United’s current crop of players will be desperate to make an instant impression, but former Arsenal star Paul Merson fears Fernandes is the only star likely to be guaranteed for a prominent role in Amorim’s ideal first XI.

‘I honestly can’t because you could say seven or eight,’ Merson told Sky Sports when asked how many players Amorim could look to move on.

‘They haven’t got wing-backs and I look at Rashford and Garnacho and I think where are you two going to play.

‘The two centre forwards they’ve got are not really the centre forward that he wants that’s going to be hectic up front, hold the ball up and let everyone join in.

‘I only see Fernandes as the one for me who is a safe one. He’ll play in behind as No.10 and can play his football. He’s Portuguese he’ll know him.

‘There’s so much hard work to be done there, it’s such a hard job. This is a different league, that league where they play is a different world. You come to Old Trafford you have to win every game.’

Despite his scathing assessment of United’s playing staff, Merson is confident Amorim is right for the job.

He added: ‘I’ve talked to people in Portugal when I’ve been in cabs and Sporting fans and two years ago they were telling me how good he was.

‘They were talking rough English like me. He will get it right but it will take time beacuse the fair play rules now don’t let you go bang, wallop, crash.

‘These players at Manchester United aren’t going anywhere.’

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