Former Manchester United star Gary Neville has criticized the club’s “ageing spine” following a halt to their recent winning streak over the weekend.

Under the management of Ruben Amorim, the Red Devils initially struggled this season but managed to secure three consecutive victories against Sunderland, Liverpool, and Brighton. However, their winning momentum was stalled by a 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

United went ahead with a goal from Casemiro in the first half but quickly lost their lead after the break, conceding twice in just two minutes, which put them on the back foot.

After the match, which resulted in United dropping from fifth to eighth place in the Premier League standings, Neville, a former captain of the team, called on the senior players to elevate their performance. He emphasized that the “ageing spine” of the team needs to be “performing much better” at Old Trafford.

Speaking on The Overlap and Betfair’s Stick to Cricket show, Neville reflected, “The backbone of a football team is crucial. When I joined Manchester United, we had a solid core with (Peter) Schmeichel, (Steve) Bruce, (Gary) Pallister, (Roy) Keane, and (Eric) Cantona, and we all played around them.”

Gary Neville has taken aim at Manchester United’s ‘ageing spine’ after Saturday’s 2-2 draw

Ruben Amorim’s winning three-game run came to an end with a point at Nottingham Forest

Matthijs de Ligt (left) and Casemiro (right) were told they should be ‘doing more’ by Neville

‘We literally were able to be cushioned by this unbelievably strong spine that delivered reliably every single week.

‘I think (Harry) Maguire and (Matthijs) de Ligt should be doing a lot better than they are. You know, you look at the experience that those two have got.

‘De Ligt’s played a mountain of games at sort of different levels, the highest level. Harry’s played so many times for England. You’ve got the midfield, Casemiro and Bruno have got massive experience.

‘Up front, they haven’t got the experience. But to me, that spine of Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, Maguire and De Ligt is ageing, but should be doing a lot better at holding it all together than they do.

‘That’s why I think Liverpool are good because they’ve got Alisson, (Virgil) van Dijk, they’ve got (Alexis) Mac Allister and (Ryan) Gravenberch in midfield and then they’ve got obviously the centre-forwards that they’ve got.’

Despite scoring twice or more in the last four games, Amorim’s side are continuing to leak goals at the other end. 

With new players continuing to adapt to life at Old Trafford and certain players being deployed out of position, Man United are currently sitting with the worst defence inside the top half, having conceded 16 goals already.

By choosing to play Fernandes — arguably United’s best attacking player — in a deeper midfield role alongside Real Madrid legend Casemiro, Amorim has sacrificed solidity in midfield to get summer signings Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko on the pitch further forward.

Meanwhile, the manager has trusted De Ligt and Maguire to partner 19-year-old defender Leny Yoro in the heart of defence, while deploying Diallo — a winger by trade — as a full back. 

Captain Bruno Fernandes (centre) was also part of the four-man spine criticised by Neville

Despite being told by Neville to step up, Maguire produced United’s best moment of the season so far last month — scoring the Red Devils’ dramatic late winner against bitter rivals Liverpool

While De Ligt only arrived at Old Trafford last season, he has a wealth of experience at top clubs including Ajax. Juventus and Bayern Munich, once regarded as one of the best young centre-halves in world football. 

Maguire arrived at Manchester United for £80million in 2019 and has managed to reclaim his place in Amorim’s regular first team after a prolonged period on the fringes. 

He was, however, left out of the starting lineup to face Forest, with Luke Shaw coming in to replace him. 

Despite being told by Neville to step up, Maguire produced United’s best moment of the season so far last month — scoring the Red Devils’ dramatic late winner against bitter rivals Liverpool at Anfield.

United travel to north London on Saturday to take on Thomas Frank’s Tottenham, who were booed off by the own fans after a disappointing 1-0 defeat by Chelsea last weekend.