Criticism will sting United to action - Fortune

Quinton Fortune has claimed the criticism being directed at Manchester United following their poor start to the season will actually help improve results.

United have struggled to match Premiership pacesetters Arsenal and Chelsea so far this season.

With United’s vast wealth and history of success, cynics are quick to pierce any chink in the Red Devils armour and some have already written United out of the title race, even though the season is barely a month old.

It is a frustrating situation for Fortune, who can offer little practical assistance after succumbing to a thigh problem during the opening league game at Chelsea.

“There is always going to be criticism and that is good for the club because it keeps the expectations and the standards high,” Fortune told www.manutd.com

“As much as anything, it gives us the strength to push ourselves even harder. There has been a lot of negativity directed at the club but I still believe the players we have here are good enough to win matches and I can definitely tell from the desire at the club and how the players have been doing in training that things will get better.”

After 12 months in exile, Fortune can also look forward to resurrecting his international career once he gets fit again.

The 26-year-old had not been selected for the South African side since he went AWOL ahead of a friendly with England in Cape Town over 12 months ago.

Fortune insisted that was not true and after new coach Stuart Baxter travelled to United’s Carrington training ground for face-to-face discussions with the player, the former Atletico Madrid man was happy to confirm his availability.