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Gary Neville has urged Manchester United to stop trying to mould Bruno Fernandes into a false-nine role and instead play Marcus Rashford as a striker.

The Red Devils have relied so much on Cristiano Ronaldo to provide big moments following his return this season. While Jadon Sancho and Anthony Elanga have provided some key contributions, Ronaldo has proved the go-to man.

Meanwhile, Rashford has suffered a dip in form. He has not scored since January and subsequently dropped out of the England squad for the recent international break.

Furthermore, he is struggling to get a regular starting role up top for Man Utd. Instead, Fernandes has played in an advanced role alongside Paul Pogba in recent weeks.

Interim boss Ralf Rangnick employed such tactics away at Manchester City in the 4-1 defeat for the Red Devils. And he did so again on Saturday for the 1-1 draw with Leicester.

Sky Sports pundits Neville and Jamie Redknapp admitted that they thought Rashford would start having had a break.

“Marcus Rashford is having a massive low,” Neville said. “To not be in that Manchester United team today is saying something, I have to say.

“To play without a centre-forward at home against Leicester when he’s had a couple of weeks’ break as well is a big decision by Ralf Rangnick.”

Redknapp added: “Marcus Rashford’s not had any international football, you think he’d be training well, showing that he wants to play.

“If you’re seeing a midfield player – which is what [Fernandes] is – a No.10 playing as a central striker, it won’t be easy for him today.

“I think he’s a fantastic player, but he’s a better player coming from deeper. He’s not an out-and-out striker.”

Neville then insisted that United should stop trying to copy City’s blueprint amid their lack of an out-and-out striker.

Neville warns Man Utd about Fernandes

“You see Manchester City sometimes play with [Phil] Foden or [Kevin] De Bruyne in that false nine position,” Neville said.

“I think Manchester United feel that can happen with Bruno.

“I’m not so sure Bruno is that type of player, Bruno’s more of a passer. He’s not a runner and I saw it against Manchester City away, he just didn’t work.”

United’s latest point kept them sixth in the Premier League table and left their top-four hopes hanging by a thread.

While they have moved level on points with fifth-placed Tottenham, Spurs can go three clear by beating Newcastle on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Arsenal in fourth remain three points ahead of Man Utd and have two games in hand.

Crucially, though, United still have to play Arsenal and Arsenal still have to play Tottenham.

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