Home failings costing Reds

ASHLEY Young admits Manchester United's failure to put teams away at Old Trafford has undermined them this season.

United were 1-0 up against relegation strugglers Swansea on Sunday, but had to settle for a point when Gylfi Sigurdsson equalised with a free-kick 11 minutes from time.

That was their 14th draw of the Premier League season and 10th at home, a record that has compromised their top-four push and left them trailing rivals Manchester City and Liverpool.

Young did not sugarcoat his reaction, accepting the unwanted trend had contributed to an underwhelming return.

"After 10 draws at home, you think about the points that we've lost and thrown away and where we could have been in the league," Young told MUTV.

TALKING

"A lot of people have been talking about fourth spot in the league but I thought we could go even higher than that. We've got a lot of tough games but as long as we're prepared I'm sure we can go and get the points that we need."

United may not need to finish in the top four to regain their Champions League place next term if they get through a two-legged Europa League semi-final against Celta Vigo and go on to lift the trophy in Cardiff on May 24.

Jose Mourinho's side are favourites to do just that but their prospects are being severely hampered by a series of injuries and a relentless fixture schedule.

After nine games in April there is no let up between now and the end of the campaign, with United facing games every three or four days.

Meanwhile, Zlatan Ibrahimovic's knee operation has been a success and he will make a full recovery, according to his agent Mino Raiola. The 35-year-old has gone under the knife in America to repair ligament damage suffered in Manchester United's Europa League win over Anderlecht last month.

GABRIEL Jesus admitted his best was yet to come after keeping Manchester City's Champions League bid on track with a late equaliser in the 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.

In his first start for 10 weeks after recovering from a broken metatarsal, the 20-year-old Brazilian rose unchallenged in the box to head home a Sergio Aguero cross in the 84th minute and help his side cling on to a top-four spot.

"I am learning that every game in the Premier League is really difficult and we know how difficult it is going to be until the end of the season," said Jesus.