Manchester United's Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo reacts at the end of the UEFA Europa League group E football match between Cyprus' Omonia Nicosia and England's Manchester United at GSP stadium in the capital Nicosia on October 6, 2022. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP) (Photo by KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images)
Cristiano Ronaldo failed to find the net in Manchester United’s 3-2 win over Omonia Nicosia (AFP via Getty)

Paul Scholes believes Cristiano Ronaldo should start alongside Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial for Manchester United’s Premier League clash with Everton on Sunday.

Ronaldo played a full 90 minutes as United edged past Omonia Nicosia with a 3-2 win in the Europa League on Thursday evening, but the 37-year-old struggled in front of goal.

After going behind in the first half, a double from Rashford and a goal from Martial sealed United’s victory in Cyprus.

And Scholes believes Ronaldo, Martial and Rashford should be United’s attacking trio at the weekend after Antony and Jadon Sancho failed to shine in the Europa League.

Asked if he can see Ronaldo being included in the front three against Everton, Scholes replied: ‘I can on Sunday, yeah.

‘I think the impression the two subs [Rashford and Martial] have made tonight with Cristiano as well.

‘There aren’t a lot of games Cristiano will be able to play in but I think Everton could be one of them.

Manchester United's Anthony Martial celebrates scoring their second goal with Marcus Rashford REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou
Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial came off the bench to rescue Manchester United in the Europa League (Reuters)

‘It’s not a massive pitch, he won’t have to be sprinting out everywhere, working the channels.

‘When he’s got two wide lads who have got goals in them, I think the two wide lads that played today, Jadon Sancho and Antony, I know Antony scored on Sunday [against Man City], but I think Martial and Rashford look more dangerous.

‘I think they’ve got a little bit more about them, they can go either way, they’re quick, defenders will be frightened to death of them.

‘Cristiano, okay, he had a lot of chances tonight, it didn’t quite work for him, it wasn’t quite his night, but that won’t happen for long with Cristiano. If he gets chances, if he gets chances on Sunday he will score.’

Owen Hargreaves added: ‘They linked up really well, Marcus and Cristiano.

‘Marcus is great running with the ball and it’s a really good run from Cristiano [for United’s equaliser]. It’s nice to see them linking up, often we see them at times both having shots.

‘I think they can link up together with Martial, Marcus and Cristiano through the middle because they can play wide.

‘It’s nice to see Marcus being really positive because I think when he runs with the ball he’s actually almost impossible to play against, he’s quick, he’s strong, he’s a good striker of the ball, with Martial and Cristiano there’s options there to be positive about.’

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