For a player renowned for his media-shy, work-first persona, ex-Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has adapted marvellously well to blithering on in the press to earn a crust.
His usual angle of hammering the regime at his former club has worked wonders for him and he’s been banging that particular drum once more, and in particular the confidence-draining impact of the rotating of the club’s attacking players by manager Jose Mourinho.
“It’s difficult for Martial and Rashford to find some confidence because they come in for a game, they might not have the best game and then they’re out for three or four matches. It’s frustrating,” the United legend told ESPN.
“Martial and [Marcus] Rashford, two really talented players, they need to develop their confidence and then… it scares me that these really talented players will be sold and be brilliant for another club.
“I could see that happening with Martial.”
This latest intervention by Scholes is unlikely to be well-received by the United boss, who has previously bemoaned the presence of ex-players in prominent roles in the media, and is facing a touchline ban from the FA for using some rather colourful language to send a message to them in his native tongue after the club’s 3-2 win over Newcastle United before the international break.
It’s been reported that he might be able to slither out of serving that touchline ban upon his return to his former haunt of Stamford Bridge on Saturday lunchtime by failing to reply to the FA’s charge by 6pm on Friday, which would leave them too little time to push the paperwork through before Saturday's early kick-off.