Ruud van Nistelrooy is now in interim charge of Manchester United (Getty)

Gary Neville has urged Ruud van Nistelrooy to consider playing a three-man defence with Manchester United following Erik ten Hag’s exit.

Ten Hag was sacked on Monday morning less than 24 hours after United’s 2-1 defeat away to West Ham in the Premier League.

Van Nistelrooy, who scored 150 goals for United during his playing career and returned to Old Trafford in the summer as part of the first-team coaching staff, has been named as the team’s interim manager.

Sunday’s defeat to West Ham has left United 14th in the Premier League table with just three wins from nine games so far. United have also failed to register a victory in the Europa League this season with draws against FC Twente, Porto and Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce.
Van Nistelrooy will now take charge of United for their Carabao Cup tie at home to Leicester City on Wednesday night before his side host Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday.

And Neville believes United could benefit from lining up with a three-man defence in order to provide more solidity to the team.

Asked if Van Nistelrooy can immediately instill a new identity in the team after Ten Hag’s exit, Neville told Sky Sports: ‘I mean it’ll be almost impossible wouldn’t it, for him to do that in the next few days.

Gary Neville says it will be ‘impossible’ for Manchester United to make instant changes under Ruud...