Axel’s driven to lift United into top spot

AXEL Tuanzebe says United are focused on going top of the Premier League this week.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men are level on 33 points with leaders Liverpool ahead of tomorrow’s game in hand at Burnley.

They will move top if they avoid defeat and then head to Anfield for a showdown with Jurgen Klopp’s men on Sunday.

“We want to be top of the league and this is the time to do it,” home-grown defender Tuanzebe said.

“Two games that can really cement our position at the top and we just bounce on from there.”

With that crunch doubleheader looming large, Tuanzebe was among nine players brought in by Solskjaer for Saturday’s FA Cup third round tie against Watford.

Scott McTominay’s early header proved the difference in a 1-0 win that may not have been pretty, but gave much-needed minutes to players such as Tuanzebe.

“Sometimes games like this are scrappy,” the defender said. “There were a lot of changes to the team, so it’s hard to have a rhythm, a pattern of play, but job done.

“I would obviously love to get more minutes, so I can constantly keep my performances up.

“The team are doing well, so the only way in is really to force myself in by playing well in the chances that I do get.

“Sometimes they can just come out of the blue but the main thing is that we kept a clean sheet and we won the game.”

Harry Maguire ended Saturday’s match alongside Tuanzebe in defence after Eric Bailly was forced off just before half-time.

The 26-year-old took a nasty blow to the back of his head when Dean Henderson was clearing the ball.

“He’s fine,” Tuanzebe said of Bailly.

“He’s a warrior, that’s what he does for us. He gets in the way of things so it’s good to see that he’s alright and he should be training in the next week or so.”