Michael Carrick told to axe three Man United starters after international break
Marcus Rashford, Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw should all be under close inspection from Manchester United manager Michael Carrick.
That is the opinion of experienced former Tottenham, Everton and Aston Villa scout, Bryan King, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
After the international break, Carrick will be tasked with turning around what has been a dismal start to the season at Old Trafford and will likely have to make changes.
Man United have won just one of five Premier League games in the new campaign, and were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Brighton in an embarrassing collapse after going 2-0 up.
The pressure is growing in intensity for Carrick, who was appointed in the summer after leading the Red Devils to Champions League qualification as an interim manager.
The Englishman's team will face a difficult run that includes Tottenham, Atletico Madrid, Leeds United, Bournemouth and Chelsea after the international break.
Luke Shaw has 'been fortunate to play for Man United'
Man United have faced defensive questions for several years now, with Shaw and Martinez at the centre.
Both players have suffered from major injury issues, and rarely manage to look convincing at the club level - despite Martinez's success with Argentina.
Rashford was expected to join Barcelona this summer and there was some excitement about his return, given his form on loan in Spain last season.
But the winger has looked out of place and bankrupt of all confidence so far this season, failing to register a single goal contribution.
"The three I'd drop - Martinez, Shaw and Rashford. But there again, it's five matches," King told Football Insider. "I would certainly put the question mark over all three of them.
"Certainly the fellow, Martinez, at the back. I've seen many things written about him. How can somebody earning the money he is even be on a football field?
"Shaw, again, I think he's been fortunate to play the internationals and the games he has for Man United, to be honest. He always looked to me as a scruffy player."
How can Carrick change things up?
A lacklustre summer transfer window has left Carrick without the options to make dramatic changes to his Man United team.
Amad Diallo is set to return after the international break and can come into the reckoning, but defensive switches have become even more limited.
Patrick Dorgu's injury, suffered on Sunday as Denmark played Wales, looks certain to keep Shaw in position on the left for the time being.
Carrick does have options at centre-back, however, and Leny Yoro will be hoping to burst back into the Man United back line.