Former Manchester United academy director Nicky Butt says the club is still some way from the top of the English game.

Butt believes his old club need 'something drastic' to get back to the top but did praise Erik ten Hag's start so far at Old Trafford.

"I'm sad to say that I haven't really watched many games, I watch a few games obviously, but one thing I will say about him is that everyone knows who the manager is," Butt told the Manchester Evening News. "He has stood up to the big players, there is obviously the Ronaldo situation, but he has stood up to the [other] players.

"From what I have heard, he does not pull any punches and I don't think you can say that about previous managers, I think some have ducked it a few times. I think Ten Hag is one who will not take any rubbish off anybody, he knows his philosophy, he knows how he wants to play, I believe his training is very, very good but it is a bigger thing than just Ten Hag isn't it, it is a bigger thing than just the manager.

"You have to get everything right at that football club because the ones above them aren't standing still. How I simplify it to my mates or my son is that if you imagine [Manchester] City being here (raises his arm high) and Man United being here (placing his other hand lower) then everyone says that United have got to go like that (moving his arm upwards) but they don't they have to go like that (pointing vertically upwards) to catch them."