Man United insider says they're on 'right trajectory' despite season's woes

It has been a difficult season for United this season, who find themselves seventh in the Premier League and completely out of Europe having finished bottom of their Champions League group.

Erik ten Hag has come under major pressure as a result and there had been question marks over his job after the arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who has purchased 25 per cent of the club's shares.

But speaking to talkSPORT Drive with Andy Goldstein and Darren Bent, Huddlestone, who works as an Under-21s player/coach at Old Trafford, has insisted that the Dutchman should be given more time after a tough season with injuries.

"I know the league position is not where the club want to be but I think things are on the right trajectory," Huddlestone said.

"I think the manager has got good ideas and you saw it in patches last year that the lads are buying into that.

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"I've had this argument regularly with Man United fans and other fans, for example when Newcastle have a few injuries and Tottenham have a few injuries, that is their excuse for not getting results.

"For stages of the season, Man United have not had their strongest back four from last season, [Mason] Mount and Casemiro have been missing, Antony was missing.

"You've almost got six or seven players that realistically would be in the starting XI. But that gets brushed under the carpet if the results aren't going well.

"I think the lads seem to be buying into the manager's ideas and patience is needed with a lot of managers and it will be interesting to see as and when he's got a fully fit squad of his signings."

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When asked by Goldstein what transfer strategy United will employ now, Huddlestone replied: "I think you need a mix. I don't think you can do one or the other.

"You've seen your Paris Saint-Germain's try and do it with more senior players and it has not quite happened and apart from when Sir Alex did it in the 1990s with a really young squad, I don't think we have seen it since.

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"If you can get a bit of experience through the spine of the team and blending that with Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho, Willy Kambwala, Dan Gore, they've been in and around the first-team this season, I think you can get a lot of success that way."

What changes Ratcliffe will bring to United remain to be seen but he could bolster their transfer funds as well as refresh the club's infrastructure.

Several players have already been linked with moves to Old Trafford this month including Karim Benzema, Michael Olise and Vinicius Jr.

But it will take more than a couple of transfers in January to take the Red Devils back to the top after years out in the cold.

They have not won the Premier League since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 and have seen their local rivals Manchester City take their mantle as the dominant side in the country.