Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs has urged Jose Mourinho to use Paul Pogba on the left side of a midfield three in an attempt to close the gap on Manchester City.
The Red Devils have been second best to their city rivals in the Premier League this season, amassing 13 points fewer across the opening 26 matches.
Despite coming in for criticism recently, £89m midfielder Pogba has been a key man for United this term after playing a direct part in 12 top-flight goals.
United's most successful player in Giggs believes that Pogba, left out against Huddersfield Town last time out, needs to be integrated back into the fold alongside Nemanja Matic and Ander Herrera.
"Manchester United's attacking players are, without a shadow of a doubt, capable of winning the Premier League next season," he told Sky Sports News. "They've got pace, guile, goals, experience and make up a really top forward line. I would say the forward line is as good as Manchester City's, but the difference is the way of playing, with Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva behind consistently finding the front three for City.
"United have Paul Pogba who could potentially be as good as them, but then Nemanja Matic is more defensive, so it is just that creative area where City have got the upper hand. One of the best games Pogba had was the Everton game [2-0 win on January 1], when he was on the left of Matic – in a similar position to the one he played at Juventus – and Ander Herrera was on the right.
"I think that position where he's on the left of a midfield three is where he's at his best. He's a brilliant crosser of the ball and I don't think he's as effective when he's having to do more defensive work in central areas. I would like to see him in a 4-3-3 with Matic sitting, Herrera to the right and Pogba to the left, with a selection of the front three thriving off more creativity behind them."
Mourinho stressed after the win over Huddersfield that Pogba was not left out of the side as a result of his disappointing performance against Tottenham Hotspur.
Daniel Lewis
