Our Manchester United fans here in the Transfer Tavern are hoping to try and claw back some of the points deficit this half of the season to run Man City close for as long as they can.

Having not had the past period of the Christmas, United will be looking to resurge and famously hunt down the leaders like they have done on so many occasions in the past, like many of our long-standing regulars remember. However unlikely it may be, our resident Red Devils remain an optimistic bunch.

The turn of the year will give renewed hope for the Red Devils and a couple of quality signings in the transfer window could really see an upturn in fortunes. Alongside that, Mourinho must start to gamble a little more in order to reap the benefits, and that gamble could start on Monday at Stoke City by bringing some youngsters in to freshen up the team.

After a week away in Dubai, no doubt the team should feel revitalised and refreshed, and many of our punters feel that the refreshed look good pay off dividends for Mourinho.

Our landlord takes a look at two players the Portuguese man should introduce to the fold…

Angel Gomes

Having recently penned a long-term deal with the club, Mourinho would be wise to afford Angel Gomes another Premier League start. One of the most talented young forwards to have emerged from the club’s academy in recent years, handing him a start against an out of sorts Stoke side could do wonders for his confidence and also take the pressure off of Marcus Rashford and Romelu Lukaku.

RoShaun Williams

Neither Chris Smalling nor Phil Jones have looked overly convincing in central defence without Eric Bailly there to tighten things up and, against a Potters side struggling for goals, there could be a chance to hand RoShaun Williams a Premier League.

The 19-year-old defender has all the attributes to become a club legend at Old Trafford – in the mould of Rio Ferdinand – and simply needs to be given a platform in which to grow.