Former Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre has said that the club are getting stronger following a slow start to the season.

The Red Devils initially struggled under new manager Louis van Gaal, but they have won their last four Premier League games to climb up to fourth in the table.

"They're coming back at just the right moment before the Christmas period and hopefully their injury problems will reduce and they will get even stronger," Sky Sports News quotes Silvestre as saying. "Now the players know each other better. They've stepped it up and they now know what's required in the Premier League.

"They're now in the fourth Champions League place and they're really benefitting from [Wayne] Rooney's form for United and England.

"I think they are going to get stronger. I think they are now finding the right balance with Louis van Gaal."

United will return to league action next Monday, when they visit Southampton.