02 March 2023 , 11:52
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Paul Scholes is better placed than most to assess the suitability of Manchester United's central midfielders – and he has given a contrasting verdict on the club's three main options.
Scott McTominay started Wednesday night's FA Cup victory over West Ham but was withdrawn at half-time for first-choice starter Casemiro, who once again played a key role in Erik ten Hag's side securing the victory.
At the start of the campaign, Scholes gave a damning verdict of McTominay and midfield partner Fred – who had established themselves as the club's long-term midfield options. The summer arrival of Casemiro, alongside Christian Eriksen, helped switch things up.
Eriksen's long-term injury saw Marcel Sabitzer arrive on a loan deal from Bayern Munich until the end of the campaign, with the Austrian teaming up with McTominay and then Casemiro before being replaced by Fred – who added the third goal – in the win over the Hammers.
Scholes has now sung the praises of Casemiro and praised his revolutionary impact at United, having proved to be a sensational addition since joining from Real Madrid. The Brazilian has a strong case to be named the Premier League's best player this campaign.
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"Casemiro has been sensational this season," Scholes told United's official website. "He has great experience, winning so many times with Real Madrid as well, and is invaluable to the younger players around the squad.
Fred and Casemiro have struck up a midfield partnership at Man Utd (Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)Have Your Say! How many trophies can Man Utd win this season? Tell us what you think here.
"It's almost like he's a coach on the football pitch. You've seen the difference from when he's come into the team and what he's made [happen].
"He has great experience and I don't think he gets the credit for the way he plays. He is a really good passer of the ball, which surprised me a little bit when you think you saw Luka Modric and Toni Kroos as the playmakers at Real Madrid."
Scholes added: "But this lad can play. I've heard so many times, as well, that he's probably the best-holding midfielder as well. I don't see him as a holding midfielder.
"He's a proper Manchester United midfielder that gets involved in everything. You see him up the pitch, you see him defending, you see him controlling the game at times. He’s probably as close to Roy Keane as you’re going to get. I think he’s been brilliant. I think ‘holding midfielder’ just does him a little bit of an injustice."
However, at the start of the season – prior to Casemiro's arrival – Scholes gave a damning verdict of Fred and McTominay. He insisted that only a maximum of one should play for United at the same time, with preferably neither involved.
"McTominay was always trying to run with the ball, ridiculous," Scholes lamented in early August. "The quality in the middle of the pitch was really poor. I was happy he didn’t get sent off [for a high challenge] but I think he was slightly lucky. Again, he’s running with the ball, absolutely ridiculous.
"It could easily have been a red card. The quality in the middle of the pitch was nowhere near good enough but we’ve seen that for the last few years with these two players.
"With Fred and McTominay, he [Ten Hag] is going to have to go with just one of them but even one of them is probably too many.
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"Fred gives the ball away all the time and McTominay is trying to run with the ball constantly and then gives it away. Pass it to your best players! It’s not that difficult. It’s criminal on a day like today."