Norman Whiteside believes Manchester United need to start making Old Trafford a fortress again, with the visit of his other former club, Everton, next on the agenda.
Ruben Amorim's side still have some time to wait before returning to Premier League action and are looking to extend a five-game unbeaten run.
The Reds have a 100 per cent record on home turf since a luckless 1-0 reverse to Arsenal in the season opener and face a first men's game under the lights at the Theatre of Dreams this term, when the Toffees come to town for the 20:00 GMT kick-off on Monday.
Whiteside burst through the ranks at a young age to become a United legend, scoring in both the 1983 FA Cup and League Cup finals and curling a memorable winner against Everton two years later, to get our hands on the famous trophy again.
After Alex Ferguson's arrival in late 1986, the Northern Irishman departed for the Merseysiders but injury restricted his output for the Toffees, and he was forced to retire at the young age of 26.
Holding both clubs close to his heart, the 60-year-old, who still works in the hospitality section at Old Trafford, feels it is time for United to deliver as we get back down to business and approach our first busy spell of fixtures during this campaign.
“Slowly,”
Whiteside told club media, when asked if he could see signs that United are starting to make Old Trafford an intimidating place to come again. “Very slowly. Yes, there is a little improvement but, as you know, we're not getting carried away.
”I do the hospitality on matchdays, I've been doing that for 30-odd years now, and I would always give my two pennies' worth before the games. I used to say Old Trafford was a fortress and this would be 2-0 or 3-0 but I always said nil!
“But the last few years, you know, we're giving goals away, which isn't what we were used to. So I would say 2-1 or 3-2 and, when you start giving the other team a goal start, it's not quite the same fortress we used to have. But slowly, slowly, they are starting to do okay.
Norman Whiteside scored this famous goal against Monday night's opponents.
“I think people are coming to Old Trafford not afraid,”
he continued. “That is the thing, certainly with Fergie's teams, he wanted to build it up so teams should be terrified coming to Old Trafford. It doesn't matter who it is. Whether it's Liverpool, [Manchester] City, Everton, Chelsea. It doesn't matter. They always thought they were coming here and would be happy with a point, that sort of thing.
”But we've started a couple of seasons lately, being beaten in the opening games at Old Trafford, and it has to be a bit more locked up to get to the back old fortress idea.“
Everton's visit is a familiar one on the calendar, with the Toffees enjoying the second-longest run of successive seasons in top-flight English football, behind Arsenal.
“I still work at Old Trafford,”
Whiteside explained. “And I always get invited to games by Everton. I haven't been to the new Hill Dickinson Stadium yet but Everton are very good and they always invite us to games and stuff, especially around Christmas.
”You know, when you look up your teams and the results, United and Everton are my two, although I didn't play too much there, 33 games I think.
“They're a great, family club and a very friendly club. So I always keep an eye out for Everton as well.”
The fact there is something extra special in the air for these night games is woven into the fabric of the Theatre of Dreams, an experience that Whiteside got to enjoy first hand in his playing days.
“It's just tradition, just history isn't it?” he said. “I remember the Barcelona game, that was a great atmosphere in the 1980s, and that sticks in people's minds. But, even well before that, the club has always been known for having these great nights at Old Trafford.
”The floodlights just make it. It's just a great feeling to play under the lights. Luckily, we did that quite a few times and it's lovely.“
Hospitality packages are available to purchase for upcoming games at Old Trafford.