Patrick Barclay says Man United's title charge could yet be derailed by two of their former heroes.
Can Hughes and Bruce scupper United's title hopes?
Patrick Barclay believes Manchester United's title charge could yet be derailed by two of their former heroes.
Sir Alex Ferguson's side took another step towards the title on Saturday lunchtime with a comfortable 2-0 victory at Middlesbrough and many experts believe the Premier League title race is now little more than a formality.
However,
The Times journalist Barclay feels United will be severely tested when they come up against Mark Hughes' Manchester City and Steve Bruce's Wigan in their next two league fixtures.
That is followed up by the visit of Arsenal to Old Trafford and Barclay feels that run of games shows there is still life in the title race.
He told the
Sunday Supplement: "I think we will know in that period that's coming up when Manchester United have three games in just over six days. It's an incredibly punishing schedule, even for that squad.
"The games are against Manchester City, run by Mark Hughes - so you've got the Mark Hughes factor
and the Manchester City factor. It's a difficult game to forecast.
"You then have Wigan away two days later and who's their manager? Steve Bruce. That will be the one performance Steve Bruce wants from his team because I'm sure he'd like to be considered to be the next Manchester United manager.
"That will be the one performance he asks - or demands - from his team.
"You then have a nice easy one after that, it's Arsenal. There's no way Arsene Wenger's going to come and lie down at Old Trafford.
"Individually they are all winnable by Manchester United, taken together the chance of Manchester United dropping six points - which is precisely what Liverpool need them to drop - can't be discounted.
"I think if Manchester United get more than three points from those games they are champions.
"If they don't Liverpool are."
Strong enough
However, fellow
Supplement guest Joe Lovejoy disagreed with that view and argued that United's squad is strong enough to come through that tough run of games.
"It's just not going to happen is it?" said the the Sunday Times writer.
"Manchester United have such a strong squad that they can put out their reserves and win Premier League matches against Middlesbrough - and against Wigan the way they are playing.
"I have every admiration for Steve Bruce, a smashing guy and a smashing manager, but the Wigan players aren't good enough to beat Manchester United.
"I don't think Manchester City are good enough to beat Manchester United either. I think it's going to be a procession and Manchester United have got it sewn up already."
