Gary Neville insists 'this is not the plan' after Erik ten Hag drops two major stars to the bench ahead of Manchester United's crunch clash against Aston Villa

Gary Neville has offered a scathing appraisal of Erik 10 Hag's action decisions for Man United's showdown pinch Aston Villa.

The Dutchman enters Sunday's crippled astatine Villa Park nether dense scrutiny aft yet different stuttering commencement to nan campaign.

A melodramatic Europa League tie pinch Porto successful midweek did small to alleviate nan unit connected Ten Hag pinch galore believing his occupation could beryllium astatine consequence should United neglect to return each 3 points.

Harry Maguire netted an all-important equaliser astatine nan Estadio do Dragao, and Ten Hag has opted to commencement nan England world alongside 36-year-old Jonny Evans successful nan centre of defence.

The determination intends some nan £98m pairing of Lisandro Martinez and summertime signing Matthijs De Ligt person been forced to settee for a spot connected nan bench.

Speaking up of nan crippled Neville insisted nan action served arsenic a damning indictment of Ten Hag's nonaccomplishment to instrumentality a caller style of play.

'United person six centre-backs, if you'd person said 5 weeks agone you'd extremity up pinch Maguire and Evans, I'd opportunity location must beryllium injuries,' Neville said connected Sky Sports. 

'De Ligt and Martinez person been dumped to nan bench. 

'The scheme was for 10 Hag to found a style of play. This is not nan plan.'

Asked astir nan determination to time off some Martinez and De Ligt connected nan bench, Ten Hag claimed he was utilising his squad extent owed to their engaged schedule.

'Rotation. We person truthful galore games to screen and past you look astatine nan opponent,' he said.

The determination sees Evans make his first Premier League commencement for nan nine this play aft extending his first one-year statement until nan extremity of nan play this summer.

Meanwhile Maguire started United's first 2 games of nan run but later recovered himself watching connected from nan chair arsenic Ten Hag opted for a business of Martinez and De Ligt.