THERE is a new King Erik at Old Trafford - but most Premier League fans cannot see him restoring Manchester United to the glory days of Cantona and Co.

Erik ten Hag is the latest manager tasked with ending the Red Devils’ now decade-long malaise since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.

The halcyon days of legend Fergie, when the likes of Eric Cantona, Roy Keane and a youthful Cristiano Ronaldo had United as perennial champions, seem a lifetime ago.

Success-starved supporters are hopeful Ten Hag can bring the fancy football he implemented at Ajax - and maybe a player or two - and get their beloved club back to challenging for the title.

But most top-flight fans cannot see him doing it either now or even in the next five years.

Fifteen hundred fans were asked for Sky Bet’s Fan Hope Survey ahead of the 2022-23 season if they felt United would win a league title in the next half a decade.

The response was emphatic with 72 PER CENT of supporters across the 20 Premier League clubs believing the league title would still elude the Red Devils during that time.

It shows how far United have fallen since their greatest-ever boss quit - and what a massive job Ten Hag has on his hands.

United fans’ displeasure with the way the club has been run during the last ten years has been well-documented, with much criticism being levelled at the club’s owners, the Glazers.

Yet interestingly, the 80 United fans taking part in this survey believe the blame for the demise should not be shouldered by the Americans alone. 

The owners do indeed cop the most flak, receiving 31 per cent of the vote when asked who is most responsible.

But the players (28 per cent) do not escape the fans’ wrath and nor do the board (also 28 per cent).

At least Ten Hag can console himself if it does not go well that most will not blame him, with managers only taking 14 per cent. 

The vast majority of United supporters (85 per cent) are also happy with the appointment of Pep Guardiola’s old reserve boss at Bayern Munich, which should at least give Ten Hag a fighting chance.

Meanwhile, looking ahead to the upcoming campaign, David De Gea is the most popular choice to be the club’s new captain.

The Spanish goalkeeper took 31 per cent of the vote when United fans were quizzed over who should wear the armband, more than double that of existing skipper Harry Maguire (15 per cent).

Cristiano Ronaldo came in second, amid rumours of a sensational move to Chelsea.

One thing is for sure: United fans want the Portuguese goal machine to stay with 91 per cent claiming as such.