Manchester United have a promising squad and a big-name manager, but there is still work to do.
Manchester United have had an interesting 2016, with Louis van Gaal’s FA Cup triumph not enough to save him from the chop and Jose Mourinho bringing in some superstars in a bid to return the good times to Old Trafford.
It is still very much a work in progress and here are seven things United fans will want for Christmas:
1) A winning streak to surge up the table
There is plenty of football over the festive period and United need to go on a winning run as they bid to claw back the deficit between themselves and the top four.
United have played well for much of the campaign but they have drawn far too many matches and that has seen them slip behind.
It is not all doom and gloom though and if United can rack up six or seven wins on the bounce things could quickly change.
2) A fit and firing Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Manchester United’s summer signing had to wait patiently while Mourinho somewhat bafflingly overlooked him time and again.
The Portuguese may have felt Mkhitaryan needed time to acclimatise to English football but he is definitely on song now and after a minor injury blow against Tottenham Hotspur, United fans will be desperate to see him stay fit for the remainder of the campaign.
3) A new centre-back
While Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones have impressed in recent weeks, United need an experienced, quality central defender to forge a partnership with Eric Bailly.
Jose Fonte seems the ideal fix while Victor Lindelof is touted by any as the next big thing so expect one of those two players to arrive in due course.
4) For Mourinho to put his faith in Luke Shaw
It is understandable that Luke Shaw is not his buccaneering former self given his horror injury and it is going to take him time to recover psychologically even if his body has now recovered.
It is doing him no favours with Mourinho calling him out or dropping him in favour of the out-of-position Matteo Darmian.
5) A January exit for Marouane Fellaini
The Belgian midfielder is simply not good enough for this United side and while there has been much debate about the recent booing at Old Trafford, it is time he moved on.
He is nowhere near the class of United’s midfield trio of Michael Carrick, Paul Pogba and Ander Herrera and it is downright terrifying every time he comes onto the pitch.
6) A new contract for Michael Carrick
Speaking of Carrick, it is crucial that United offer him a contract extension despite his age.
He has proved this season that he remains a class act and with Pogba and Herrera alongside him he still has some time left at the top.
Carrick is the player that makes United tick and it is ridiculous how long Mourinho took to realise that.
7) A glimpse of Angel Gomes
Angel Gomes is the next big thing at Old Trafford and United fans are desperate to see him given a chance.
While he is only 16, inexperience did not hurt Marcus Rashford last season and it would be great to see the attacking midfielder get a chance if circumstances allow.
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