Exclusive: Wes Brown tips ‘fantastic’ Man Utd star to regain his starting spot: “It will happen” | OneFootball

Former Manchester United defender Wes Brown believes Matthijs de Ligt will sooner or later return to the starting XI, despite the mounting challenges.

The Dutchman was one of the standout performers for the club during the first half of the season, producing consistent displays for Ruben Amorim’s side.

However, the 26-year-old has been struggling with a back injury since the beginning of December. Therefore, the defender missed the final month of Amorim’s turbulent reign, as well as Darren Fletcher’s brief stewardship, and the first weeks of Michael Carrick’s tenure.

Will Matthijs de Ligt climb his way back in Man Utd pecking order?

With De Ligt ruled out of action, Carrick found himself a solid defensive partnership in Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez. The duo have been extremely reliable at the back, thus relegating Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven to the bench.

While De Ligt is expected to return to action in the coming days or weeks, he won’t have an automatic starting role awaiting him.

Nevertheless, Brown believes that the former Ajax captain will eventually earn his place in the team thanks to his elusive quality.

“I think Harry and Martinez are doing so well, it’ll be difficult to change at the moment. But when De Ligt is fit, he was playing excellently before he got injured,” said the former Man Utd defender in his exclusive interview with Stretty News in collaboration with Bet Wright.

“He’s probably one of our best defenders. Well, he was one of our best defenders. So he’ll want to get straight back in.

“But that’s what I love about football. In my teams, you all have to battle it out with each other. You’re teammates. If you’re playing well, you respect the other person, and you try even harder to get back in. And when you do, it’s then up to you to stay in,” added the two-time Champions League winner.

“Will Michael change it straight away? Maybe not if it’s going well still.  But eventually, De Ligt will get his chance again, and then it’s up to him to play well. But what a fantastic player to be able to do that.

“I think at some point it will happen. But you have to respect the players on the pitch at the moment. And if they’re playing well, you can’t take anything away from them. You have to give them that opportunity.”

Matthijs de Ligt looks on while in action vs Crystal Palace. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

We also asked Brown to pick the Man Utd player who impressed him the most this season, and he didn’t hesitate to choose Bruno Fernandes.

“Bruno. I think the front three have made a big difference to how we played, sort of scoring. But Bruno, for me, is still the guy. I think Cunha’s got better and better. And Mbeumo started off on fire as well.

“So yeah, I just think the attacking has changed a little bit. But Bruno, for me, is still the guy who’s thinking to score, the guy who’s trying to set up an assist, the guy who probably runs the most. And, you know, he’s the one who wants to give it his all. So it has to be him, 100%”

Wes Brown recalls Champions League heroics

On a separate note, Brown opened up on his famous assist for Cristiano Ronaldo’s opener in the 2008 Champions League final against Chelsea.

The former England international, who played at right-back during that unforgettable season, insisted that lifting the trophy was all that mattered in the end.

“I just care that we still won. That’s the main thing. Obviously, it was nice getting an assist, but for me, it’s just a great occasion, great team, great season. And we obviously finished it off with a bit of stress and penalties, but just wonderful memories, really.

“And obviously, the assist was good as well. But yeah, it was a great team that we had, lots of world-class players on that pitch, very difficult to beat, and obviously, very happy I was involved in it.

“The greatest attacking contribution of my career? 100%. 100%, yeah. I used to think about defending, so yeah, definitely.”