RUBEN BEEFS UP HIS ENGINE ROOM

Red Devils boss must spend big to overhaul his ageing midfield

- JEREMY CROSS

RUBEN AMORIM continues to lean on a Manchester United engine room he knows is not built for the long haul.

One the Portuguese coach hopes will still function until the end of this season, before it is given a serious overhaul.

Bruno Fernandes remains the main cog and most influential part of United's midfield, while Brazil veteran Casemiro has found a new lease of life to suggest he can still do a job for his team, despite being nearly 34 years of age.

And Mason Mount has offered glimpses of the form which once persuaded United to spend £60million luring him to Old Trafford.

Amorim knows he is still papering over the cracks when it comes to an area of the team where the biggest games are won and lost.

Manuel Ugarte (top circle) and Diogo Dalot (centre circle) are not up to the standards required at the highest level, while Kobbie Mainoo's (bottom circle) career has gone backwards faster than Max Verstappen in reverse.