Ole Gunnar Solskjaer cannot afford to rest the key first-team duo of Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes as the Old Trafford giants head into the gruesome fixture list surrounding the festive season in England, according to ex-United star Gary Neville.
Neville, while speaking on the Sky Sports podcast, voiced huge praise for both Fernandes and Maguire being of paramount importance to the Red Devils’ outside chances of challenging for the Premier League crown as the former full-back added that the former was key to United’s quality upfront on the pitch.
‘They are the two players who I think are irreplaceable. Fernandes is irreplaceable, they are a way off without him. He’s a vital piece of the jigsaw,’ said Neville.
‘Him and Fernandes, I’m not sure they can [rest them] at this moment in time because Ole hasn’t got the luxury to lose a game, unfortunately.’
The Sky Sports pundit also reserved special praise for Maguire’s importance to the Manchester United XI despite constant criticism directed towards the £80 million worth signing’s performances in the Red Devils shirt.
‘Maguire, I think, you’d know if he was missing. My gut feeling is that they would miss him enormously.
‘I know some people say he’s not the best defender in the league, that he’s not done brilliantly since he came for £80m, but he’s a big presence in the heart of the defence.
‘He’s good on the ball, he’s composed and he’s good in the air. He doesn’t make a lot of mistakes, sometimes he gets caught but he’s a good centre-back, a really good centre-back and a big presence in that team.’
Solskjaer’s men will face Leicester City in the Boxing Day fixture of the Premier League on Saturday as Manchester United aim to go second in the league standings with a win over the Foxes.
