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“Time for Cleverley to kick on,” says Scholes

Manchester United v Sevilla - Rio Ferdinand TestimonialPaul Scholes has claimed that it’s time Tom Cleverley “kicked on” his Manchester United career, given the 24-year-old has so far “done okay” since returning to Old Trafford after loan spells at Wigan and Watford.

Scholesy’s statement echoes the thought of the large majority of Reds, who have grown frustrated at Cleverley’s inability to control game and failure to build on the promising signs he had shown when first arriving on the scene a couple of years ago, after graduating from the youth ranks.

“Tom has been there quite a few years now and has done okay,” Scholes told Eurosport UK at the premiere of The Class of ’92.

“But it’s time Tom kicked on. He does play a lot of games and he is a quality player. That is emphasised when he gets in the England squad. Now it’s time he went on to the next level at Manchester United.”

After Scholes retired for a second time at the end of last season, United have become even more reliant on Michael Carrick and with the Geordie midfielder out injured, David Moyes has turned to Ryan Giggs’ experience and Phil Jones’ dynamism to do the job in midfield, with neither Cleverley nor summer arrival Marouane Fellaini convincing in the role.

With Giggs unable to play two games in a week and Jones a converted centre-back, United have struggled enormously in the middle of the park and Cleverley has come under a lot of criticism for his sub-par performances.

Scholes, however, remains confident that Moyes will strengthen his squad in January if he feels he needs to.

“If the manager feels like he needs to go out and buy someone in January then I’m sure that’s what he’ll do,” explained Scholesy.

“There’s obviously been a lot of talk, especially because United aren’t doing as well as we’d all hoped, but it’s not my place to say whether he should go out and buy another midfielder.

“Adnan (Januzaj) has obviously broken through this year and has got great talent. He’s a really gifted lad and if he gets his head down and works hard then he’ll have a great career in the game.”