With remaining fixtures still to play in the Barclay’s Premier League, I have decided to choose my top three Manchester United performers of the season regardless of what happens in the next couple of weeks.
It’s been a tough choice to make as I have chopped and changed my top three performers over the last few days, cutting it down from a strong five, to my top three. In reverse order..
3) Wayne Rooney
Many supporters will argue that Wayne Rooney should probably be top of this list when you consider his goal return this season for the reds, but I think Rooney’s form has not been as consistent as in previous seasons by his personal extraordinary high standards.
Rooney has partnered Javier Hernandez, Dimitar Berbatov and Danny Welbeck upfront this season and has been devastating in front of goal showing versatility and maturity in his game.
He has scored important goals this season, his work rate and ability to showcase his talent in the big games make him one of the Premier League best players of all time, and he is still at the age where he is yet to hit his full potential and peak form. The majority of United supporters would include him in their top ten greatest United players of all time, me included.
Rooney is United’s talisman figure in the side since Cristiano Ronaldo left for Real Madrid, a player others look too for inspiration and leadership, he will have a strong case for being United’s next full time club captain when the role next becomes available.
2) Paul Scholes
What can you say about Paul Scholes that has not already been said before? He is simply one of the greatest players to ever grace the Old Trafford pitch, or any football pitch for that matter, and he has the glowing catalogue of references from people within the game to back it up.
Scholes retired from United at the end of last season after helping the reds claim a historic 19th English League title. Four months into this season United stunned supporters by announcing that he had made a dramatic U-turn and returned to the club to start on the bench in the FA Cup meeting with rivals Manchester City.
His impact on his return to the team was instant; it was almost like he had not been away from the club. At a time when United were struggling in the midfield department, Scholes quickly re-stamped his authority and ability to change the tempo of games.
Add to that his extraordinary range of passing and experience, and it is no surprise that since his return Scholes has not been on the losing side of a game that he has started, that has seen United overtake neighbours City at the top of the league.
Scholes looks set to stay on another year at Old Trafford that will only enhance his legendary status with supporters at the club.
The player I have chosen as my Manchester United player of the season was not a tough choice to make, and I believe he fully deserves all the credit and praise he has received this season.
1) Jonny Evans
Jonny Evans has been fighting for a place in the starting eleven at United since his return from a successful loan period at Sunderland. He was viewed by many supporters as a squad player, a player that you could rely on when called upon to do a job. Evans himself admitted that he tough his chance of regular first team action at United would never become a reality.
When central defender and club captain Nemanja Vidic suffered knee ligament damage that ended his season, Evans was handed the chance by Sir Alex Ferguson to step up and fill the void left by the injured Serbian international, and what a sensational impact he has had on the first team since.
Filling in for Vidic was a daunting task for the young Irish man, but he has stepped up to the plate, and its testament to Evans that United don’t really seem to have missed losing Vidic.
Evans is currently one of the first names on the United team sheet, Vidic will have a fight on his hands to win back his place in the team if Evans continues his impressive, consistent, solid form.
By Kevin Ashford @KevinAshford7
