Paul Scholes wants Manchester United to play Bruno Fernandes alongside Paul Pogba

Paul Scholes urges Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to DITCH playing two holding midfielders and instead use his ‘cleverest’ stars Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes together… as United legend claims having a more ‘dominant’ centre back would help

Paul Scholes believes Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes need to play together in midfield to give Manchester United an extra cutting edge. 

Pogba was deployed on the left again for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side in the 2-0 win (4-0 agg) over Granada in the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday night. 

He impressed before being taken off as a precaution at half-time having been booked.  

Paul Pogba has been playing on the left recently

Bruno Fernandes (left) should play in the middle with Paul Pogba (right), says Paul Scholes

Scholes thinks the creativity both men could bring to the middle would improve United

Scholes thinks the creativity both men could bring to the middle would improve United

Solskjaer enjoys the solidity of two sitting players in midfield but Scholes thinks Pogba needs to be redeployed in the heart of the team so he can combine with Fernandes. 

He told BT Sport: ‘Solskjaer likes the two sitting players, I don’t think there’s a need for both of them, they need to get Pogba in a linking role with Bruno, if they do, it frees up another position for a forward player.

‘The awareness and cleverness they both have allows each other to link up. United’s two cleverest players are Fernandes and Pogba so if you can get them close together, they’ll score a lot and provide goals for others too. 

Pogba impressed in the first half but was brought off after he picked up a yellow card

Pogba impressed in the first half but was brought off after he picked up a yellow card

‘If they have a more dominant centre back, they could have a more attacking midfield. 

‘A lot of the time, United that attacking, flowing play, I think Pogba could bring that with Fernandes. If you get him in there, it frees up the left for Rashford, there’s no way you’d want to play against that. 

‘Discipline-wise Pogba isn’t always there at times but going forward he brings something different.’

Scott McTominay and Fred offer Solskjaer a safety blanket in front of the defence and Pogba has at times been questioned in his work going back towards his own goal.  

The Frenchman’s form has been superb of late so it will be intriguing to see how his manager uses him between now and the end of the season.  

Fernandes is given the role of United's primary playmaker in front of a midfield two

Fernandes is given the role of United’s primary playmaker in front of a midfield two