Bruno Fernandes and his Premier League suspension has presented forgotten man Scott McTominay with another chance to prove Manchester United hero Paul Scholes wrong. Fernandes will not feature against Aston Villa owing to his one-game ban for picking up five bookings.
His absence from the United team means someone else will get their chance. McTominay is in pole position, there, with summer signings Casemiro and Christian Eriksen nailed on to start.
United manager Erik ten Hag does have other options at his disposal - namely Fred and Donny van de Beek - while picking McTominay may force him into a slight reshuffle. His inclusion means Eriksen would be deployed as 'number 10' and that comes with risks.
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Eriksen is brilliant enough to deputise for the suspended Fernandes. However, such has been his own impact from deeper areas this season, that decision would have a knock-on effect as there are few players in this United squad who can play through the lines with as much class as the Denmark playmaker.
It's a conundrum for Ten Hag, no doubt, although bringing in McTominay has its own benefits. Along with Fred, the Scotland international has often been a fall guy for past failings, but by the same token he was unfortunate to lose his place in the starting XI to summer signing Casemiro initially.
Casemiro was always going to break through, but the Academy graduate had performed well since Scholes picked him out for criticism following the Brighton defeat. Fred could also be given the nod against Villa but has also come in for tough criticism from club legend Scholes.
United were beaten 2-1 by the Seagulls on the opening day and McTominay was not at his best - although he has already started to discredit that particular verdict. When analysing the Brighton defeat, Scholes told Premier League Productions: "I think the quality in the middle of the pitch was really poor. I was happy he [McTominay] didn't get sent-off [for his late challenge], but I think he was slightly lucky there.
"Again, he's running with the ball, it's absolutely ridiculous. The quality in the middle of the pitch was nowhere near good enough, but we have seen that for the last few years with these two players.
"With Fred and McTominay, he [Ten Hag] is going to have to play just one of them [moving forward] but even one of them is probably too many. Fred gives the ball away all the time and McTominay tries run with it constantly and then gives it away.
"Pass it to your best players. It's not that difficult."
McTominay and Fred could be in contention to start against Aston Villa on Sunday, giving whoever is handed a start the opportunity to prove Scholes wrong.
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