Rio Ferdinand believes Axel Tuanzebe should be questioning his lack of game time at Manchester United.
Tuanzebe made just his fourth start of the season as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s heavily-rotated side laboured to a 1-0 FA Cup win over Watford at Old Trafford.
The 23-year-old academy graduate began in a promising partnership with Eric Bailly and continued to look solid when the Ivorian went off injured with substitute Harry Maguire.
It was a comfortable outing for Tuanzebe as United kept a clean sheet, but he remains on the periphery in Solskjaer’s squad.
United defensive great Ferdinand thinks highly-rated Tuanzebe should be raising the issue over his role.
“I think there has to be a moment in your career where you say, ‘Listen I’ve been here a long time, I’ve done the groundwork, everyone knows what I’m about, and where do I stand in the rankings in the club?'” he told BT Sport, as quoted by the MEN.
“I’d say at the moment, he’s probably fourth-choice. Does he want to play football? He did well against PSG, against world-class opposition, and then he doesn’t play.
“As a player, surely you’re thinking that you had a taste and you want more.
“That’s got to be a mindset of a young player – someone who has grown up at United and wants to play football for Man United, you have to find it somewhere.
“I understand it’s a squad game and there are certain members that play a certain role in the squad.
“As a kid, he was talked about being the next big thing as a centre-back, surely you want to play and if not, you have to ask yourself questions.”