Manchester United: 7 Players Who Need to Step Up to Win EPL Title

Manchester United will need improvements from several players if they are going to repeat as English Premier League champions in 2012.

With 12 fixtures remaining, the Red Devils are two points behind Manchester City and have one more match against their arch-rivals.

The two Manchester clubs are a step ahead of the competition in England, but only side can take home the trophy.

Here are seven members of United who will need to step up to give their team a chance at a 20th EPL championship.

7. Jonny Evans

Jonny Evans is a good player to have as a back-up center defender, but will have to be Manchester United's starter for the remainder of the year.

Nemanja Vidic suffered a horrific knee injury in early December and will not return to the pitch this season, forcing Evans into a more prominent role.

The often-erratic defender is a tough, physical player, but commits too many mental mistakes.

If United are going to surge past Manchester City, Evans will have to clean up his play and stay focused.

6. David De Gea

David De Gea has shown flashes of brilliance in his first year at Old Trafford, but has also been plagued by inconsistency.

The 20-year-old has no shortage of talent, and United fully expected him to be a work-in-progress when they bought him from Atlético Madrid prior to this season.

While with Atlético, the goalkeeper was given the nickname Van der Gea because of similarities to Edwin Van der Sar, his predecessor at United.

If the Red Devils win the league title this year, Van der Gea will have to display the poise and maturity that Van der Sar showed for so many years.

5. Nani

Few players on the Manchester United roster have the confidence that Nani has, but some of this bravado may be unwarranted.

Just 16 of Nani's 56 shots in EPL fixtures have been placed on goal. He is by far the least accurate United attacker.

The 25-year-old often hinders the Red Devils' attack by refusing to pass the ball and firing ill-advised shots.

If United is able to jump Manchester City in the tables before May, it will be because Nani looks to create more for his teammates than himself. 

4. Rio Ferdinand

Rio Ferdinand is 33 years old, but all too often lacks the poise of a veteran player.

He has remarkable confidence on the ball for a center defender, but this occasionally leads to inexcusable mistakes in dangerous parts of the field.

Without Nemanja Vidic to act as a safety net for his indiscretion, Ferdinand will have to clean up his play.

In order for United to win the EPL in 2012, the longtime Red Devil will have to lead by example and stay focused on the pitch.

3. Tom Cleverley

Tom Cleverley had a fantastic start to the Premiership, but has since missed significant time due to a foot injury.

The 22-year-old has appeared in just five EPL fixtures this season.

In those matches, the youngster's piercing passes provided a creative spark in the midfield that the Red Devils had been lacking.

If United hopes to catch Manchester City, Cleverley will need to stay healthy and in form.

2. Ashley Young

Ashley Young was one of Manchester United's premier signing this summer and has been serviceable, but not spectacular at Old Trafford.

The 26-year-old has scored only two goals in Premiership matches, both of which came in an 8-2 thrashing of Arsenal early in the year.

Young's pace and skill can cause nightmares for opposing defenses when he is in top form, but he has failed to impress in too many matches this year.

With Antonio Valencia sidelined due to a hamstring injury, Young's best effort will be badly needed in the EPL title race.

1. Wayne Rooney

By all accounts, Wayne Rooney is having a fantastic season, but Manchester United will need even more out of its star striker to make a final push towards the league title.

In the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or voting, Rooney was only United player to finish in the top-20.

While the Red Devils have many quality players, their No. 10 is the only member of the team that ranks among to best footballers in the world.

If United wins the Premiership this season, it will be because Rooney completes this campaign with a superhuman effort.