Former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke has confirmed that Dutch Red Devils new manager Erik ten Hag will have to undergo “major surgery” to get him back to the top.

“I spent the last two weeks there and saw firsthand why we were in this situation,” said Yorke, who will lead the elite A-League team that will face Barcelona in a friendly in Sydney.

He added: “Ten Hag is going to have a major operation, a lot of work to do.”

United finished the season in sixth place, 35 points behind local champions Manchester City.

He continued: “I don’t know what the first step should be, but the new coach must impose his personality on the team and strengthen the solidarity of the players. At the moment it seems like a huge problem.”

He concluded: “When you look at our team, you will find that it includes great players, but they have not achieved anything. There is a lot of work to be done.”