Paul Scholes believes Jesse Lingard can provide valuable “competition” for Bruno Fernandes and should return to Manchester United when his loan spell at West Ham comes to an end.
Lingard has scored eight goals in nine Premier League starts for the Hammers, while Fernandes has scored just once in his last seven appearances for United.
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And Scholes says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would benefit from having Lingard back at Old Trafford next season as an able backup for the Portugal international.
“He’d had a tough time at United and I think that was all from bringing Bruno Fernandes in,” Scholes told TalkSport.
“They are players in similiar positions and you couldn’t argue with what Bruno has done.
“Jesse needed to play football – he needed a chance – and West Ham gave him that chance.
“I know the quality Jesse has. I worked with Jesse as an 18/19 year-old as a coach so I know the quality he possesses.
“His fitness was never going to be a problem even though he hadn’t played for a while, he’s so professional and so fit.
“He’s been sensational. For Ole, I think it would be great to have him back to give some competition to Bruno Fernandes.
“When he isn’t quite doing it we have a player in Jesse Lingard who is capable of reaching the same heights.
“His numbers since he’s been at West Ham have been just as good as Bruno, so it’s always healthy to have competition in the squad.
“Hopefully Jesse is ready for that and Ole wants him to do that as well.”
Asked if he would return to Old Trafford if he was in Lingard’s shoes, Scholes replied: “Of course I would.
“I’d want to prove to myself that I can play in that team and play every week.
“It’s going to be difficult to do that if Bruno Fernandes is fit every week. It’s going to be tough for him, but the lad I know in Jesse he’s a Man United lad.
“He’ll be desperate to play for Manchester United. Whether he’ll give it a bit more time to see [what he’s going to do] after this form he’s been in if he can get back in the squad, I don’t know.
“One thing he is doing is definitely bumping his price up.”
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