Martin Keown risks reigniting Ruud van Nistelrooy feud as Arsenal Invincible questions support for 'reclusive' Erik ten Hag

Martin Keown wonders if Ruud van Nistelrooy is giving his all to help Erik ten Hag after Manchester United's defeat to Tottenham.

He red devils They were humiliated at Old Trafford on Sunday (losing 3-0 to Spurs) and leaving them languishing in 12th place in the Premier League table.

After losing half of his six top-flight games this season, United boss ten witches has found himself under pressure once again, with many fans demanding that he be fired.

Although talkSPORT understands that the Dutchman's immediate future is not in danger ahead of upcoming trips to Porto and Aston Villa before the international break.

If the former Ajax coach is relieved of his duties, Gabby Agbonlahor believes Van Nistelrooy, who returned to the Theater of Dreams in the summer as assistant to Ten Hag, should be relieved given the job.

Van Nistelrooy is a player Keown clashed with in 2003, when the Arsenal icon received a three-game ban and a £20,000 fine.

In the iconic battle of Old Trafford, Keown he jumped on the striker following his last-minute missed penalty in the goalless draw, sparking a massive brawl between both teams of players.

Keown blames Van Nistelrooy for his part in the Gunners' reception £275k in finesinsisting that his theatrics early in the match led to the sending off of captain Patrick Vieira.

And more than 20 years later, Keown attacked Van Nisterooy again when he questioned the motives behind the Red Devils icon's return.

He said on White and Jordan's show on talkSPORT: “I'm looking at Van Nistelrooy. Are you giving everything to this manager? This coach seems very lonely on the sidelines.

“Is Van Nistelrooy waiting to take over? Because it seems like changes are going to happen there.

He added: “Is everyone joining the group? I don't see that from Van Nistelrooy. Ten Hag is sitting there, nothing happens, there is no conversation. Pep goes back and talks to the gurus next to him.

“Is everyone looking in the mirror doing their best?”

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Keown continued: “It doesn't seem like the players are engaged, it doesn't seem like the staff are particularly engaged. He is a lonely man on the bench.

“You expect that group of players to be in the locker room right now and maybe try to control it because it's not unusual.

“It wouldn't have been in our dressing room to have the occasional meeting where we had to try to clarify where things were wrong, where things weren't going right.

“But the direction comes from the coach and I didn't see any real belief in what they are trying to achieve and the way they are trying to play.

“They are not very good in possession and can't really press.

“It seems like one or two players are coming to the end there. The manager clings to his position.

“It's okay, last year there were expectations. They finished eighth and lost 14 games.

“So you could look at it and say, well, okay, the management team that's there, if they allowed him to lose so many games last year, then it's no wonder he's allowed to continue.

“But I'm not sure that's the right way to go with this current coach. I think it's time.”

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