Gary Neville branded Mason Mount 'anonymous' during Saturday's defeat at Tottenham and admits Manchester United's midfield is in urgent need of surgery before the transfer window closes.
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After labouring to a fortuitous 1-0 win over Wolves on Monday, United enjoyed the better of the chances in the opening period in north London on Saturday evening but were blown away after the interval.
Pape Matar Sarr's first goal for Spurs and a Lisandro Martinez own goal hardly did justice to the dominance the home side enjoyed, with James Maddison and Yves Bissouma utterly dominant in the centre of the park.
Summer signing Mount was hooked during the closing stages after another insipid showing which followed an under-par debut earlier this week.
Ten Hag made five substitutions in all but left McTominay on the bench despite his engine room crying out for someone with his energetic and combative qualities.
The Scotland international has been deemed surplus to requirements by his manager who wants to use his sale to raise additional transfer funds but, despite his limitations, Neville feels McTominay is well worth persisting with given United's current midfield malaise.
He told Sky Sports: 'He's struggled in both of the first two games Mason Mount he's been pretty anonymous today. Manchester United have been dominated in midfield by Bissouma Sarr and Maddison.
'It still very early in the season there's no need to overreact one way or the other but what's clear one way or the other is Manchester United's midfield needs bolstering.
'That might mean Erik ten Hag has got to go back to Scott McTominay and put him in there and beef it up. He doesn't want to do that today because he's made five subs today and not used him. It's like he's trying to manage him out of the club and make space for someone else to come in.
'The owners have said there's no more money until you get players out Maguire is saying no, I'm not going yet, McTominay is probably saying the same.
'It's not going to be an easy few days. there's no doubt about that. Rudderless at the top. McTominay must be sat there thinking this is perfect for me we need someone in there to break up play.
'Fans have watched enough of Scott McTominay over the last few years to say he's not good enough on the ball, but he'd certainly help in there in this type of scenario.'
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