Man United’s defence is NOT at a top-half Premier League level – Jason Wilcox and Co kicked the can down the road when it came to bolstering the backline this summer and are paying for it now, writes NATHAN SALT

Nathan Salt writes that Manchester United's defence is failing to perform at a top-half Premier League level after the club failed to bolster the backline during the summer transfer window. A 1-1 draw against Leeds United left Manchester United with only one win from their opening seven league matches, marking their fewest wins at this stage of a top-flight campaign since 1986-87.

Manchester United and Ipswich Town are the only two Premier League teams without a clean sheet this season. The writer highlights that injuries to Luke Shaw and an in-game knock to Lisandro Martinez contributed to an unsettled backline, while defender Harry Maguire noted that the squad lacked necessary bravery on set pieces.