Former Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher has insisted that the Red Devils must be in the running to win the Premier League title in the next two to three years.

United have not lifted the league trophy since Sir Alex Ferguson left in 2013, and the English giants are currently 37 points off runaway leaders Liverpool in the table this season.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side are currently battling to return to the top four, but Fletcher has claimed that a title challenge must arrive in the next "two or three years".

"Manchester United cannot allow that (when asked about Liverpool's title drought). The current run is bad enough as it is," Fletcher told beIN Sports. "We need to see Manchester United winning the league in the next two or three years down the line.

"That's being realistic. The bar has been raised in terms of what it takes to win the league. United have to be ready for Man City and Liverpool to drop off, which will probably come in a couple of years.

"I can't see Pep Guardiola still being at Manchester City in two or three years. Jurgen Klopp, too. Maybe it's wishful thinking, [but] Man United have to put themselves in a position to capitalise if that happens. Next season I expect a better campaign and in two or three years, I am expecting title challenges and potentially winning."

United will be looking to stretch their unbeaten run in all competitions to 11 matches when they travel to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.