MANCHESTER UNITED legend Paul Scholes knows the manager who should replace Ruben Amorim if he leaves the Old Trafford dugout.
Amorim, 40, has come under fire after a poor start to the season and although pressure has eased after Saturday’s 2-0 win over Sunderland there is still a demand for results to improve.
The Portuguese tactician’s long-term future doesn’t appear guaranteed and thus United chiefs’ hand may still be forced if consistency is not found.
If push comes to shove and the ex-Sporting Lisbon boss is sacked then Scholes, 50, has already identified an English manager who could take over at the helm.
And that is none other than Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, who has transformed the Magpies from relegation strugglers to top-four finishers with two Champions League appearances since his arrival in 2021.
The Man Utd icon is adamant Howe, 47, is “definitely” the right candidate even though he admits he is not sure he would want his controversial assistant Jason Tindall to follow him at Old Trafford.
Scholes told The Overlap: “Eddie Howe, Eddie Howe.
“I’m not sure about his mate [Tindall], but definitely him.”
Nevertheless, United minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe declared Amorim could still get up to two more years to prove himself.
Ratcliffe, 72, admitted the under-fire manager has “not had the best of seasons” after three defeats in seven Premier League games but revealed the Glazer family would not order his dismissal.
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Amorim is under contract until 2027 but has won only 19 of his 50 games in charge and the Red Devils have taken 37 points from his 34 league matches.
Sir Jim suggested the Portuguese head coach, who was appointed last November, is a third of the way through a three-year project.
Ratcliffe told The Times’ Business Podcast: “He has not had the best of seasons.
“Ruben needs to demonstrate he is a great coach over three years. That’s where I would be.”
