Mauricio Pochettino has been told to make a “brave change” in January with two big-name players tipped to be offloaded.

Pochettino is going to inherit a mess when he takes over at Man Utd after this international break.

Man Utd have chosen Pochettino to succeed Michael Carrick, and he will be tasked with guiding the Red Devils away from the Premier League relegation zone.

The Red Devils were right to sack Carrick, but United’s players and board let him down, and former Premier League striker Troy Deeney thinks heads need to roll for them to get back on track.

“Poch must go in and take a huge sledgehammer to the toxic Carrington culture, accepting that things are not good enough,” Deeney told The Sun.

“Managers and those above need to stop fiddling around the edges and tackle the big problem, otherwise there will be no progress.

“United supporters might not like it, but Arsenal have shown the way and offered the blueprint. Rather than repeating what has failed, they must make a brave change. Someone big has to go, even if it means short-term pain.

“Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette were pushed out for the benefit of everyone. They were good players but carried a stink with them around the place.

“Cut them out and everyone else can breathe, focus in training and start growing.”

“Pochettino must make a statement…”

Deeney also suggested that Bruno Fernandes and/or Marcus Rashford need to be offloaded in January if they cannot “prove they are on board”.

“For the Red Devils, that has to be someone like skipper Bruno Fernandes or, once again, Marcus Rashford,” Deeney added.

“I can guarantee it now, Rashford will suddenly be fit for the Liverpool game. He will see a new manager who likes energy and pace, he will think he can do all that.

“He might even start well, get a few games, but then Pochettino will ask for more and he will not like it. Then all the bad traits will come back — he’ll be out and about and late for training all over again. The cycle begins and the damage returns.

“Pochettino must make a statement, give these players until January to prove they are on board or get rid.”