Gary Neville names two Man Utd players Ruben Amorim 'doesn't like' as manager warned about new 'problem'

Gary Neville has suggested Ruben Amorim "doesn't like" two Manchester United players who collectively cost the club around £100m.

United's decision to sack Erik ten Hag and replace him with Amorim has so far failed to pay off, with the club languishing down in 13th place in the Premier League after a disappointing run of results.

Amorim has won just four of his 13 Premier League matches and already finds himself under pressure at Old Trafford, just over three months since he was appointed head coach.

A key area of concern for the Portuguese is United's lack of firepower up front, with his side managing just 28 goals in 24 league games this season.

Rasmus Hojlund has scored just two goals in the Premier League, while summer signing Joshua Zirkzee has managed one more than the Dane in the league.

Amorim lost patience with the pair and benched them both as the Red Devils took on Crystal Palace on Sunday, with Kobbie Mainoo deployed as a false nine instead.

But the move backfired, as United were beaten 2-0 at Old Trafford.

Speaking on his Sky Sports podcast, Neville said Amorim's unusual tactical decision was a mistake and suggested the coach "doesn't like the strikers he's got".

Neville said: "The only thing I can think is that it's one of two things. Maybe it's experimenting to the point whereby he's just trying to find a solution that works and he likes and a system he wants to play. Or he doesn't like the strikers he's got.

"When I saw the team-sheet, I thought [Bruno] Fernandes would play in that position or [Alejendro] Garnacho. When I saw Kobbie up there, everything has to be absolutely perfect. From Palace's point of view, they would fancy that because there's no real goalscorer in the team.

"I'm not saying if Hojlund was up there they'd panic but at least then there's a physical presence. Zirzkee is a big lad. I'm not saying they're brilliant these players but when I saw the team I thought Palace will fancy this and I can't really see how United will score. Where's it going to come from? If a team doesn't look like it quite often isn't right.

"I thought it would get better when Ruben Amorim came in, I thought they'd buy into his enthusiasm and the system. We've seen the absolute opposite, it's got a lot worse and that's surprising. There's going to be a lot more pain towards the end of the season I think."

Neville added: "He won't be enjoying this but I think he's got to simplify it, while he might not like Hojlund, he might not think Zirkzee is great, he might not like other players, but he’s got to pick the players he has, the players he's been served.

Amorim is already under pressure at United (Image: Getty)

"It can't keep going on as it is, they need to start to play better but where is that coming from? At this moment in time it's a very sorry situation watching Manchester United play."

Meanwhile, former Premier League striker Chris Sutton believes Amorim is at risk of losing Zirkzee and Hojlund "mentally" if he continues to leave them out his starting line-up.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Sutton said he would not be surprised if the remaining attackers "think about not applying themselves" for the rest of this season.

He said: "If you are Joshua Zirkzee or Rasmus Hojlund and you're seeing Kobbie Mainoo - who is a really excellent footballer but isn't a centre-forward or false nine - being picked, you are thinking: 'How on earth is he playing in front of me?'

"That is a real problem. Amorim is basically telling the pair of them that he doesn't rate them in any way, shape or form.

"He could lose these two players, mentally, for the rest of the season now and they might think about not applying themselves."

United next face Leicester in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Friday before taking on Spurs in a must-win Premier League match the following week on Sunday.