A new Red leader needed in shake-up

A NEW captain, a new pecking order and other key issues United must address before the start of the new campaign.

-  SAMUEL LUCKHURST

CHANGE THE CAPTAIN 

A Yorkshireman has relinquished the captaincy, remained in the team and excelled without the added burden. Harry Maguire has retained the captaincy, lost his place in the team and struggled.

Maguire has been more stubborn than Joe Root and his status has been untenable for 18 months now.

Erik ten Hag rendered Maguire's rank moot when he dropped him after the debacle at Brentford in the second game of last season but it is time for United to formally appoint a new leader.

Bruno Fernandes led United superbly last season, bar an aberration at Anfield. His performance level improved and he was influential in three different positions, having previously been pigeonholed as a No.10.

Fernandes is United's de facto captain and deserves official recognition. Maguire cannot stick his head in the sand for much longer, not when the European Championship is in 12 months away. The England manager Gareth Southgate has said his lack of playing time at United is unsustainable.

Maguire is the United captain and an England regular. It sounds impressive but it is misleading after a more galling season than the previous one. Ten Hag was asked about Maguire's captaincy at his press conference unveiling at Old Trafford in May 2022 and it is still topical.

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