Bryan Robson has claimed that summer signings Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger will be crucial as Manchester United look to challenge for the Premier League title.

Schneiderlin and Schweinsteiger arrived from Southampton and Bayern Munich respectively, as Louis van Gaal added more options to his midfield in the hope of closing the gap on their rivals, and Robson believes that the duo will have a big say on how United cope this season.

"The manager has built the midfield area to a point where we look strong enough to dictate the tempo of games," the former United captain told The Mirror.

"Schweinsteiger and Schneiderlin look really good signings – they are going to be the powerhouse of United's midfield, and that should hold us in good stead over the season.

"Over the last 25 years, the club has never gone more than three seasons in a row without winning a trophy, so the law of averages says Manchester United's time is coming around again."

United start the season by hosting Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday afternoon.