Man United players expect Erik ten Hag to be sacked this summer with the Dutchman’s squad anticipating Sir Jim Ratcliffe will appoint a new manager this summer

Manchester United’s players are increasingly doubtful that manager Erik ten Hag will be in charge next season.

Ten Hag still has the support of the dressing-room despite some complaints over the intensity of his training regime.

However, Mail Sport understands that many in the United squad believe it is likely new co-owners Ineos will make a change at the end of the season and sack the Dutchman after two years at the helm.

Although Ten Hag insists he is on the same page as Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford, and feels aligned with them on the back of positive conversations, he has confided to coaching staff and agents that he has no guarantees over his future at Old Trafford.

Having appointed Omar Berrada as United’s new chief executive and moved closer to bringing in Dan Ashworth as director of football, Ineos have always planned to address Ten Hag’s situation at the end of the season.

The Red Devils boss has struggled for consistency at times in his second term at the helm

Ten Hag believes he is still on the same wave length as new part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe

It’s not impossible the 54-year-old could earn a stay of execution if he wins the FA Cup and qualifies for the Champions League – even by finishing fifth.

But a second Premier League defeat in a week in Sunday’s Manchester derby has left United trailing Aston Villa and Tottenham in the race for Champions League places, while Ten Hag’s side have been drawn against Liverpool in the quarter-finals of the cup.

Injuries have severely impacted the manager’s second season at the club, and it emerged on Monday that there have been 47 separate cases of players missing games through injury or illness.

In the last two games alone, Bruno Fernandes, Raphael Varane, Marcus Rashford and Jonny Evans have played half-fit, which in itself suggests a loyalty to Ten Hag.

However, there was surprise that Luke Shaw was risked against Luton last month, just a week after limping off at Aston Villa, resulting in a potentially season-ending injury.

There is discontent among some players over the intensity of the training sessions and a hard-line approach from the manager and his No.2 Mitchell van der Gaag.

Some players were unhappy that they were not given an extra day off after the Luton game despite United having no midweek fixture.

There is a belief that Ten Hag needs to freshen up the sessions and go easier on the players to keep them fit for the rest of the campaign.