The illustrious nature of their squad provided the Manchester United fans in the Transfer Tavern with so much hope prior to the new season, though life doesn’t always work out as planned. 

Especially when Sir Alex Ferguson is no longer involved.

Despite breaking world records in the market over the course of the summer, the Red Devils have so far struggled to keep the pace with the title race and the big names in their squad haven’t always performed.

Clearly, the rebuild at Old Trafford will take more than a single summer, with an awful lot of deadwood picked up during the spells of David Moyes and Louis van Gaal.

Though United are one of the biggest clubs in the world, they still seem to house a number of players not worthy of that iconic red shirt, with many of them playing far above the level of their talents.

With that in mind, here are TWO Man United players who really out to be playing in the Championship.

Sam Johnstone

Though, as third-choice goalkeeper, Sam Johnstone is barely going to have a huge impact on the squad, the options at other teams in those roles are a lot stronger.

It would take some doing to oust David De Gea between the posts, though academy graduate Johnstone shows little signs of ever doing that, behind even the error-prone Sergio Romero in the ‘keeping ranks.

Linked with a move to Aston Villa, that’s about where the 23-year-old should be playing.

Phil Jones

Controversial perhaps, but England international Phil Jones could really do with a loan stint at an upwardly mobile Championship side.

Having struggled to embark on the upward trajectory so infamously predicted for him by Sir Alex, the former Blackburn defender is seemingly at a crossroads in his career.

Still only 24, a season demonstrating his ability could work wonders for both club and country.