Manchester United legend Gary Neville has said the club’s lacklustre performance against Newcastle on Sunday was largely due to the unavailability of midfielder Christian Eriksen.
He noted that the Red Devils lacked guile without the Danish creative midfielder as the summer signing has been an integral part of Erik ten Hag’s team.
Eriksen was not available for the draw due to illness, with United mustering just two shots on target in the absence of their main playmaker.
Fred, Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes struggled to replicate Eriksen’s craft and creativity in the midfield.
Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast, the former United defender said: “It didn’t feel like a good performance from United. Eriksen didn’t play and it looked like they missed him.
“They had Fred, Casemiro and Fernandes, and I think when they’ve been doing really well – apart from at City, who are just a phenomenal team – Eriksen has been a big player.
“And when he doesn’t play you maybe realise how big a player he is, because he connects and glues the team together.
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According to Neville, it was not the same level or football and fluidity from Manchester United in the absence of the Danish midfielder.
