Darts star and Manchester United super-fan Luke Littler has not given up hope that the Red Devils can turn their season around and win a trophy.
United have endured a miserable campaign with Erik ten Hag losing his job in October after a run of disappointing results, and Ruben Amorim has been unable to turn the club’s fortunes around.
They currently sit 13th in the Premier League table, but are still involved in the Europa League and FA Cup.
Littler – fresh off the back of winning his first world title last month – believes United can still push for a European place this season, and fancies the team’s chances of going all the way in the Europa League.
The 18-year-old told BetMGM ahead of the start of his Premier League Darts title defence in Belfast on Thursday night: ‘I think if we get Europe it’s a good thing but if we don’t it’s a good thing too.
‘You’ve seen the likes of Chelsea do really well with no European football, so if United don’t get it this season they will be really fresh because they won’t have to play as many midweek games.
Luke Littler is backing Man United to rescue their season by winning the Europa League
United have had a dire campaign and have already lost five home league games under Ruben Amorim
Littler can see signs of progress, but wants more help given to Rasmus Hojlund (second right)
‘I do have high hopes for us in the Europa League this season, though. I think we can win it.’
Amorim has a number of issues to fix having already lost five home league games since arriving in November.
One of the main concerns has been United’s lack of goals, with only four top-flight clubs finding the net on fewer occasions this season.
The Portuguese boss left Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee out of his starting XI for Sunday’s 2-0 defeat by Crystal Palace as he opted to play without a recognised striker.
That experiment failed to work, and Littler would like to see Amorim put his faith in Hojlund more, while also calling on the Danish forward’s team-mates to give him better service in the final third.
Littler added: ‘I just think up front Hojlund needs support. They’ve got a lot of creative options around him but I do think he needs a bit of help at the top end of the pitch.
‘Amorim has moved a few things around and I can see signs of progress.’
