‘Impressed’ Paul Scholes Lauds ‘Excellent All-Round’ Midfield Starlet

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes admits he has been hugely impressed by Old Trafford youth prospect Larnell Cole.

The precocious young midfielder is one of the select few players from Manchester United's academy to be promoted to the first-team training setup. The 18-year-old has joined Sir Alex Ferguson's senior squad with the likes of Paul Pogba, Ravel Morrison and Ezekiel Fryers on occasions this season and Scholes believes Cole has plenty to offer the club.

The recently retired former Manchester United midfielder has been working with Warren Joyce's reserves this season and although Cole is perhaps not amongst the better known trio of Pogba, Morrison and Ryan Tunnicliffe, who is currently on loan at Peterborough United, Scholes suggests the diminutive starlet has an abundance of talent.

"(Larnell Cole) Is an excellent all-round footballer. He can play wide right, central midfield, he can probably play other positions, too." Scholes told Manchester United's official website.

"He's just someone who's supremely confident on the ball, capable of scoring goals, making chances and he has a chance of being a good player for us, I think.

"He's really impressed me. The ball seems almost glued to his foot, he knows exactly where he is on the pitch - which is key for a midfielder."

Manchester United's midfield has been heavily scrutinised at times this season, with some suggesting it is the weakest of Sir Alex Ferguson's tenure at Old Trafford.

Ferguson patently endeavoured to sign a playmaker in the summer but his efforts to land Wesley Sneijder were thwarted and it has undoubtedly allowed Tom Cleverley to thrive.

The aforementioned 22-year-old is not the only youngster at Manchester United with the capabilities to stake a claim at Old Trafford. The club's much vaunted generation of Pogba, Morrison, Tunnicliffe and indeed Larnell Cole are now sporadically involved with the first team and Scholes is obviously enthused by the latest crop of youngsters emerging at Manchester United.