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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
tom dutton

Man Utd youngster Daniel James is the biggest leader! Gary Neville fumes over penalty confusion

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville is concerned by the lack of leaders in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's young team after they squandered two points in Monday's 1-1 draw with Wolves.

His rant was triggered by the "embarrassing" confusion over United's missed penalty at Molineux.

Paul Pogba saw his second half spot-kick saved by Rui Patricio after an apparent debate with Marcus Rashford over who should step up to take it.

Rashford, who finished emphatically from 12 yards in last week's thumping win over Chelsea, gave Pogba the ball after a brief discussion between the two.

"My biggest concern is that Daniel James, the youngest, most naive and newest United player seems like the biggest leader," said Neville.

"United are a young team, 24 and a half is the average age and basically there isn't a player out on that pitch who has said 'Paul, there you go.'"

Solskjaer later explained Rashford and Pogba were both designated penalty takers this season, stating "the one who's the most confident" after the penalty is awarded should do the honours.

Neville added: "Managers do allow the dressing room to take responsibility but even if the players decide amongst themselves surely the player who scored last week has to take it this week.

"It isn't like spin the bottle. I don't get it."

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