Gary Neville insists Ruben Amorim must do one key thing to ensure Manchester United kick on after a difficult first months in charge.

United have so far struggled to be consistent under the Portuguese manager - especially in front of goal. They ended the transfer window by welcoming just two signings in Lecce's Patrick Dorgu and Arsenal youngster Ayden Heaven.

Given Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee's struggles in front of goal and Marcus Rashford's exit to Aston Villa, there was some expectation the club hierarchy would sign a new striker as a short-term option. However, sources insisted United had no intention of recruiting any short-term or stop-gap players who could compromise the club's budget in the summer, leaving fans to question the strategy.

READ MORE: Alejandro Garnacho sends heartfelt Man United message after bombshell injury news

READ MORE: Man United's strongest XI after January transfer window and Patrick Dorgu deal

After three games unbeaten in all competitions, the Reds fell to a 2-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace. It was Amorim's fifth Premier League defeat at Old Trafford since taking over in November.

Speaking on the Gary Neville podcast after Sunday's defeat, the United icon addressed the club's current situation and what Amorim must do in an attempt to revert the situation. "In the system that Amorim wants to play, wing-backs are absolutely critical, you have to have energy and quality in those wide areas," Neville highlighted.

"Wing-back is a position completely to wing and to full-back - you have to be good at both. So they brought in [Patrick] Dorgu who I think will play on that left side and need that balance. He obviously got Diogo Dalot and [Noussair] Mazraoui playing there, it’s not ideal because they always cut back on the right foot.

"But you’re absolutely right, there’s going to be a lot more pain I think, towards the end of the season. It is going to be damaging because there’s obviously going to stick with Ruben Amorim.

"But the more you lose, the more difficult it is for the manager to convince the players of the idea. The idea that he talked about in the very early days, ‘I will not change my idea’ - he needs the players to buy into that.

"If they keep losing with it, then they keep getting criticised with it and the spotlight comes on them more and fans are leaving unhappy. I’m sure 72,000 fans are walking out of the stadium having not scored a goal, you’ve lost 2-0 to Crystal Palace - you can’t keep losing, you just can’t.

"It will depress the thoughts of players to a point whereby they will start to lose faith and the idea. I don’t know, he has to do something. We can’t change his approach now because he’s died in the ditch and rightly so.

Neville added: "I think he’s lost more games at Manchester Untied since he’s come than he lost in 75 [games] at Sporting Lisbon, I think - it’s absolutely alarming so he will not be enjoying this but I think he’s got to simplify it a little bit, whilst he might not like Hojlund and he might not think Zirkzee’s great or like other players.

"He has to pick the players that he has and stick with them, the players he’s been served. He knew that Manchester United were not going to be prolific in the transfer window in January, everyone knew when he came in.

"It was quite clear, during his first interview the guy said you’re basically going to have these players for the rest of the season. Now he’s obviously lost Rashford, he’s now got a left-wing back in so he might think he’s slightly better off.

"It can’t keep going as it is, they have to somehow start to play better but where’s it coming from? I have to say at this moment in time, it’s a sorry situation, a very sorry situation when you watch United play."