7 Key Players For Manchester United's Future

Manchester United are still in a period of transition. Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, and at the time of writing, Louis van Gaal has just guided United to the top of the league for the first time since Fergie stepped aside.

All his talk about Philosophy raises eyebrows among fans who want to see results, but with momentum finally swinging back toward Old Trafford and the team finally kicking out of first gear, things are looking up. There's a crop of talent waiting in the wings of Old Trafford eager for a chance to impress.

Here are six who can be vital to the long term success of the club.

Paddy McNair earned plaudits for his performances at the heart of United's defence last season. Although he's yet to feature prominently this season, the Northern Irishman could become a key player in the United defence in years to come.

At twenty years old, McNair still has plenty to learn if he's blossom into a Ferdinand or Vidic calibre of defender, but he's surely well on his way. With the right tutelage he can become a big feature of the united back four that's still searching for a partnership like the before mentioned Ferdinand/Vidic. Which leads to our next player.