Former captain Bryan Robson has challenged Manchester United duo Scott McTominay and Fred to add more goals to their individual games this season.
The duo have enjoyed a strong start to pre-season, each scoring in United's opening two friendlies. Fred netted a delicious chip in the 4-0 win over Liverpool in Bangkok before McTominay's deflected effort found the net in the 4-1 win over Melbourne Victory on Friday.
The midfielders have often been heavily criticised over the last 12 months or so, with no shortage of United supporters deeming them 'not good enough' to represent the club. However, they have both enjoyed strong starts to pre-season, suggesting that they could remain key figures in manager Erik ten Hag's plans.
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But while Robson has recognised that last season was a disappointing campaign for the duo, he believes they have the ability to make the midfield tick when at the very top of their game. He also believes they have the ability to link-up nicely alongside each other.
"Last season just didn't work out for us," Robson told MUTV, speaking ahead of Tuesday's clash with Crystal Palace. "If you look at the season before and the season before that, it was them in midfield giving [Bruno] Fernandes the license.
"It does work but they have got to be on top form to make it work, and with this extra competition coming in it's about building confidence. What I want to see from both of them is to get more goals, there's no reason they can't; one goes forward and the other balances off each other. They can do that they've got decent football games."
Robson continued: "At a football club that's what it's all about - you've got to have competition in every area. You want them to have good form because you want them to make it difficult for the manager to leave you out.
"That's what McTominay and Fred have got to do. Charlie Savage has worked hard and doesn't give the ball away and he closed people down well. As a kid he's come in and done nothing wrong and this is a good opportunity to impress the manager.
"With all the new signings coming into camp, you want to stay in the team and don't want to be left out."
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