Richard Keys has slammed Wout Weghorst and claimed that Manchester United are effectively choosing to 'play with 10 men' by persevering with the misfiring Burnley striker.
Weghorst, 30, has scored just once in 10 appearances since joining the club on loan in the January transfer window and spurned a golden chance to open his Premier League account in Sunday's 3-0 win over Leicester.
Despite the big striker's dearth of goals, Erik ten Hag has praised the Netherlands international for his work-rate and pressing on numerous occasions. However, Keys believes that the Red Devils would be better off ditching the frontman, who impressed in the Turkish Super Lig for Besiktas during the first half of the season.
"You’re playing with ten men most weeks if he’s [Weghorst] in," Keys told beIN SPORTS after Weghorst blanked again in Sunday's game. "I mean, he doesn’t do enough to justify a starting place does he? Come on, let’s be honest!"
Weghorst played the full 90 minutes for Manchester United, who produced a rousing second-half display to dispatch Leicester at Old Trafford. However, Ten Hag pulled no punches after the match and admitted their first-half performance was "rubbish".
The Dutchman said: "We are happy with the result; it’s a great result. I think when you play every three days you cannot always get to the same performance or limits of the game. Today was really tough but it was first that Leicester played brilliant but second that we were rubbish.
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"Our way of play we were really inconsistent and ill-disciplined in our principles and rules of the game. Then you get problems and it was only because of David de Gea that we get a clean sheet until half-time. We were lucky that we scored a goal. Great ball from Bruno [Fernandes], great run from Rashy [ Marcus Rashford]".
Jadon Sancho was thrown into the action at half-time by Ten Hag and the former Borussia Dortmund man's introduction sparked a major improvement from Manchester United.
When he was asked to delve deeper into the elements of the first-half display that left him disappointed, Ten Hag was reluctant to give too much away - but he did laud the improvements after the break. He added: "I don’t have so much time with you but luckily we had a half-time where we could repair some stuff.
"Second half we were brilliant and we were how I want to see us playing. There was a lot of pleasure but it has to do with getting in the right positions and playing simple football. It was enjoyable to watch and we create so many chances with great goals."
