Who will win United's Player of the Year?

Saturday 25 March 2023 09:36

The debate has already started as to which Red will be crowned the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year for 2022/23.

An impressive first season under Erik ten Hag has thrown up a number of candidates for the prize, won last year by Cristiano Ronaldo, after two successive triumphs for his fellow countryman Bruno Fernandes.

With the business end of the campaign still to come, and your chance to vote for whom you believe should be the victor, we canvassed the opinion of four former players - Nicky Butt, Dion Dublin, Gary Pallister and Paul Scholes on the topic.

Find out what they had to say below...

Are Marcus Rashford and Casemiro the favourites for the Sir Matt Busby trophy?

NICKY BUTT

"I think everyone will point to Marcus Rashford, with the goals he's scored. Obviously, David De Gea and Casemiro have been phenomenal as well. I think I would go for Marcus because of the goals and he had a bad time for a year or two, where people were questioning him before, and he's come back stronger. Credit to him. Those would be the three, certainly the three you'd be picking from."

DION DUBLIN

"I'd have to go Marcus Rashford because of the way he's come back, the way he's concentrated on getting his mindset and his body ready for a really gruelling season. I just think he's concentrated on the simple things and done them really well. So Marcus is the obvious one and I would give it to him because of the way he's scored his goals. He's been consistent as centre-forward/winger and been in a purple patch. He deserves it as a young man, even though he's one of the seniors with so many young players around him, and you have to give it to Marcus.

"But I do believe David De Gea, as well, has made some incredible saves and kept United in games. Others have played well but David is a close second. Credit where credit is due, if you perform consistently, you need to be rewarded for that. Luke Shaw has been great, to be able to be shifted from left-back to left-sided centre-back, he's not really looked out of place and been brilliant. The manager trusts him to do that.

"Casemiro has been great, just with a blip of late with the red cards, but he's taking United back to the standard where they should be. He's upped that standard. There are lots in contention and that is what I like about this season." 

GARY PALLISTER

"I mean Marcus Rashford, with the bounce back he has had in form, has been superb. I think we can all see apparently he's been away and worked on his fitness and his strength in the summer. Any time you do that, you get your just rewards for it. It's something he's done off his own back and fair play to him. You can see the strength in him now, he's got stronger, got his head down and is just concentrating on his football. You're seeing a fantastic Marcus Rashford at the moment, with his goals and assists. I think Lisandro Martinez is slowly becoming a fans' favourite. The partnership with Raphael Varane is looking really good, a silk-and-steel partnership. We've seen that over the years at the club, even before me and Steve Bruce, with Martin Buchan and Gordon McQueen, players like that.

"It is a nice balance to have. I think Varane has been good, Luke Shaw has been excellent, but the fans have really warmed to Martinez. He's brought a real tenacity to the team. Obviously, I think Casemiro has been a standout, with a bit of quality we've needed in the middle of the park. I mean, you've got Scott McTominay and Fred with great energy levels and getting about, but we've seen in the past that Casemiro and Christian Eriksen, along with Bruno Fernandes in there, have given the team another dimension. But, yeah, I think for the impact Marcus has had, I would probably go with him."

PAUL SCHOLES

"I think it would have to be Casemiro, for now, with the difference he has made in the team. At the time when he signed, I was a little bit dubious, I thought he was a little bit old and wondered has he got the legs to play at Old Trafford, such a big pitch. He's proved me so wrong since he came into the team. His ability on the ball was even a little bit surprising, when you looked at Real Madrid and were thinking of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric all the time. But he's brilliant on the ball and chipped in with goals. He's led the team and has made a huge difference to this team. I think I'd go for Casemiro."

Paul Scholes was speaking courtesy of Soccer Aid - get tickets now for the Old Trafford game!

Stay turned to the United App and ManUtd.com for details in due course on how you can vote for the recipient of the prestigious award.

 

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