United need more than De Gea to be great again

DAVID DE GEA signing a new deal at Manchester United is massive – but I still think the season will be a struggle for both him and United. If we are honest, David has been off the pace for months. He has made a lot of mistakes.

A couple of years ago he was player of the year, but getting his head back in the game, getting him back onside, is going to be huge. But it will still be a difficult season. I think United have grit and steel in abundance. They are not a team who will melt away, and they have a lot of characters in there. They stand tall and strong.wh

But when I watch them I am m not sure they have enough at the top end. Who is going to get 15 or 20 goals? As good as Marcus Rashford (left) is, I look at Pierre-emerick Aubameyang and Tammy Abraham and they get lots of scruffy goals, lots of tap-ins. Marcus doesn’t score many tap-ins. He epitomises United. He has quality, work-rate and the ability to go on and be world class. But in that central position I’m not sure he is the answer. I fear they might not score enough goals this season, and their inability to dictate games will cost them eventually.

Is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer settled there for the season? Well, United have had one of their worst ever starts and if that continues you can’t say the board will ignore it.

But the plan has to come from the top – it doesn’t matter who the manager is. If the aim is to go young, with the likes of Aaron Wan-bissaka and Daniel James, that’s fine. But go out in January and find a couple more... like Jadon Sancho.

That could take them to a new level in two years’ time. They play in the Europa League this week, but they cannot afford to be out of the Champions League another season.