Paul Scholes said it is “almost a waste of time” having forward players in Manchester United’s team with Fred and Scott McTominay starting together in midfield.
Scholes was typically frank as he assessed Eriksen’s return to the squad© BT Sport
McTominay started a third straight Premier League game in Saturday’s clash with Everton while Fred joined the returning Christian Eriksen on the bench after the Dane was named in a matchday squad for the first time since January.
Casemiro is sitting out the final of his four-game domestic ban following his red card against Southampton last month. It has allowed McTominay a run in the starting line-up alongside Bruno Fernandes and Marcel Sabitzer, who was brought in in light of Eriksen’s long term injury on January deadline day.
Scholes says the return of both Casemiro and Eriksen will come as a big boost to United, suggesting that United looked hopeless with Fred and McTominay playing in their absence. Speaking on BT Sport, he said: “I think them two [Casemiro and Eriksen] coming into the team, they create more chances and look like they are going to score more goals.
“I think Eriksen especially is more creative, although Casemiro has chipped in with goals as well as passes through to the final third but I think Eriksen sees more, he’s on the half-turn more.
“You looked earlier in the season when it was Scott and Fred playing together – it was almost a waste of time having forward players because they were never facing the right way, never willing to play forward, never willing to take risks. But now with Eriksen coming back it’s a big boost.”
Bruno Fernandes dropped deeper in Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Brentford and occupied the same position against Everton. Scholes says having the likes of Marcus Rashford and Antony playing ahead of him would have been a “dream” scenario.
He added: “With Bruno, he’s come into that deeper role to try and fill that Eriksen void with the vision that is needed. And when you’ve got the forward players like Marcus Rashford, the pace he’s got, Antony on the right side, Sancho on the left side – it’s perfect for a midfield.
“It’s an absolute dream, just clip the ball over the top, keep playing to them and these will score you goals.”
