Jose Mourinho does not feel he can turn to summer signing Fred until Manchester United find a way to defend.

Much was expected of the 25-year-old after he became the club’s fourth most expensive signing of all time in a £52 million deal from Shakhtar Donetsk.

But Fred has struggled at Old Trafford to date and was not even included in Mourinho’s injury-hit squad for Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal.

“You know, step by step,” Mourinho said of Fred’s adaptation. “You have also other players in other clubs that needed their time and you have some of them that play even less than what Fred is playing.

“I think Fred when the team is defensively stronger and doesn’t need in midfield people that are more worried in giving some balance to the team than being involved in creation and attacking dynamic, the day we are stronger defensively I think the horizons for Fred change completely.”