Gary Neville makes NBC bow while somehow working for Sky Sports at the same time

Gary Neville was spotted doing two jobs at once during the coverage of the Premier League opener between Manchester United and Fulham on Friday.

The former United captain has become a constant on television screens as a pundit, mainly on Sky Sports, as well as being part of broadcasting coverage during Euro 2024. But he’s seemingly pulled a punditry first as he took part in Sky Sports and NBC Sports pre-match analysis.

Neville was present during the opening of Sky’s build-up to the season’s Premier League curtain raiser at Old Trafford before he disappeared from the panel including Roy Keane and Jamie Carragher. He was later shown on the NBC desk alongside former United teammate and ex-USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard, presenter Rebecca Lowe, Robbie Earle and Robbie Mustoe.

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The pundit’s switch across to the United States coverage was the first time the former England international has appeared on NBC, with the broadcaster only announcing his appearance 24 hours before he was set to make his debut. Neville continued his regular co-commentating role for the game.

NBC have said that Neville will be a “special contributor” for the whole season but his main role is expected to come on the Sunday show, but it seems the chance to have the United legend speaking about his former club on the opening day seemed the perfect opportunity to make his bow.

Erik ten Hag struggled to contend with a host of injury problems last season but Neville frankly said that absentees cannot be an excuse for the Red Devils this season, amid them without Luke Shaw, Rasmus Hojlund, Leny Yoro, Jadon Sancho and Victor Lindelof for the opening game.

Speaking to Sky, he said: “They were a mess everywhere. Injuries were a mess, the balance of the team was a mess, midfield was a mess, the amount of goals they conceded and shots they conceded, they didn’t score goals. There was very little right about Manchester United last season at all. The only positive was the FA Cup success. They’ve got to change everything, it’s got to be so much better.”

He continued: “Injuries can’t be an excuse for United this season. You are either signing the wrong players or doing the wrong training, that has to be removed as an excuse.”

Neville added that the new look United hierarchy, involving new Chief Executive Officer Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox, all part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS’ shake-up, has been a positive step for the club moving into the new season.

“I feel more optimistic because of the changes at the top and the negligence has been disrupted,” he continued. “They have spent on the training ground but got some serious footballers in who are not going to make the same basic mistakes, the profile of player that has been signed is very different.”