Former Manchester United star Alan Smith has admitted he’s concerned whether the Red Devils have the players required to compete for the game’s biggest prizes ahead of their clash with Tottenham at Old Trafford on Saturday night.The fallen giants have experienced a slow start to the season, picking up just five points from as many matches.There was plenty of optimism at the start of the season, with United bringing in the likes of Youri Tielemans and Andre Santos to bolster their midfield.However, defeats to Hull and Manchester City have represented big setbacks, while they’ve also been unable to overcome Fulham and Everton away from home.United go into Saturday’s match with Tottenham knowing they must win to ease some of the pressure on Michael Carrick.However, speaking exclusively to GB News, Smith admitted he was worried whether they have players good enough to fire them to the glory days of old.”If you look through the Manchester United team ,itself, have you got the players? Other than Bruno Fernandes, who has been in this situation before,” he said via Red Casino.”If you play for Wolves, like Matheus Cunha did, or Brentford like Bryan Mbeumo?Former Manchester United star Alan Smith has admitted he’s concerned whether the Red Devils have the players required to compete for the game’s biggest prizes ahead of their clash with Tottenham at Old Trafford on Saturday night | GETTY”Even Marcus Rashford has not played in the big games [for United] for a long time now. How many big derby games has Kobbie Mainoo played?”Have they got experience against teams to are prepared to sit back against us?”United’s deal for Tielemans was heralded as one of the best of the transfer window at the time.However, the Belgium international has been inconsistent so far, with some fans missing the steel of Casemiro in the middle of the park.Manchester United’s main men have struggled during the early stages of the campaign | GETTYSmith feels sympathy for him, however, admitting that representing Belgium at the World Cup back in the summer could be behind his struggles to adjust to life in his new surroundings.”He didn’t get a rest,” the former Red Devils star added.”There’s been so many people who played in the World Cup, I feel there’s still a hangover from that for a few players.”Tielemans suffered an injury during the World Cup prior to his country losing to Spain in the quarter-finals.Youri Tielemans has endured a slow start to his Manchester United career | GETTYThat, Smith feels, could also be a contributing factor.”He was injured during the World Cup, so I don’t know if he’s still got something [impacting him].”When you get to a new club you’re desperate to play and obviously that hole for United left by Casemiro just needed to be filled.”United’s clash with Tottenham is due to take place at Old Trafford at 5pm on Saturday night. The visitors also head into the game amid poor form, having picked up just two points to occupy bottom of the table.