Former Man United striker Louis Saha advises Red Devils youngster to become the ‘NEXT Paul Scholes’ – as he also compares the emerging star to Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham

Former Man United striker Louis Saha has tipped a Manchester United youngster to become the club’s next Paul Scholes.

Scholes is renowned for being one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, with the 49-year-old having won 11 Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues during his glittering career at Old Trafford.

He has earned plaudits from some of football’s greatest, with Zinedine Zidane once saying he was one of the toughest opponents he had ever faced.

In recent times, United have struggled to match the same successes as when Scholes was part of their team between 1994 and 2013, with Erik ten Hag’s side having a difficult season.

Yet according to one of the midfielder’s former teammates, Louis Saha, the Red Devils can be buoyed by the progress of exceptional young talent, Kobbie Mainoo, with the Frenchman backing the 18-year-old to become the next Scholes of United.

Scholes is renowned as one of the greatest midfielders to grace the Premier League

The teenage sensation made his debut for England last month, but also scored his first goal at Old Trafford on Sunday, in United’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool.

While United had an eventful season, Mainoo continued to impress and Saha hoped he could continue to emulate his England teammate Jude Bellingham at Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid.

“I hope Kobbie Mainoo can be the next Jude Bellingham of Manchester United! He has the skills and the composure,” Saha told PaddyPower.

“He is one of those players who has grown faster than usual and who shows real maturity at 18, especially since he plays in an unstable team.

“Manchester United’s form is all over the place and we saw it against Chelsea and against Liverpool. Having a player like Mainoo who can surprise the opposition with his calmness and out of nowhere, he is capable of producing magic so he has no ceiling.

“When you look at Jude Bellingham, he’s a monster physically. I’m not saying Kobbie isn’t a beast physically, but in terms of size, speed and technical ability – where he matches up – that’s where Bellingham is already ahead.

“He’s played a lot of games already, at Borussia Dortmund and now at Real Madrid, but that’s not the case with Kobbie. They have different styles because physically, Jude is a monster – he’s just a monster. Everyone has to watch their own game.

Saha said Kobbie Mainoo was the “complete package” and praised the youngster for his performances.

He compared Mainoo to his England teammate Jude Bellingham, but he was not as physically strong.

Saha believes Mainoo can emulate Scholes who he says ‘wasn’t big or fast’

Mainoo scored a sensational goal to help Man United secure a 2-2 win over Liverpool

The former United striker added that “Mainoo needs to find a way to be a little more effective.”

Mainoo has proven in the past that he has an excellent football game, working up and down the pitch to cut off attacks, but he can also provide his teammates with an assist when necessary.

And while we hope to see more of Bellingham and Mainoo playing together at the heart of England’s midfield, Saha noted that while the Man United ace may not be as physically tall as his fellow Englishman, he will be in able to use his skills, as Scholes once did, to “run the show”.

“I remember a player who was not blessed by God with his physique; he wasn’t big or fast and technically he was stable but nothing like Marcus Rashford or Cristiano Ronaldo, and he was Paul Scholes. He ran the show and every midfielder in the world said he was one of their favorite players.

“Mainoo doesn’t just have one or two qualities, he has everything it takes, but he needs to find a way to be a little more effective in certain areas of his game, and not make the same mistakes. He will certainly be one of Manchester United’s greatest players if he finds consistency.