Manchester United may regret Harry Maguire contract decision as Paul Scholes issues scathing assessment

Paul Scholes says Manchester United trio Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire and Casemiro can no longer cope with the demands of the Premier League.

All three players are among the most experienced players in Ruben Amorim’s squad and were regulars for the Portuguese tactician at the start of the season.

Shaw, who faced scathing criticism from Man Utd legend Roy Keane following the Manchester derby defeat last month, has started every Premier League game so far, while Casemiro has only missed one game due to suspension.

Maguire has featured in all but one of Man United’s eight games in all competitions, although only three started.

The centre-back is said to be in contract talks to extend his stay at Old Trafford, but Scholes’ comments would suggest the club are making a mistake as Maguire, Shaw and Casemiro have ‘fallen to a level’ below that required in the Premier League.

In an interview with The Times, the Man United legend said: “Shaw, Maguire, Casemiro, they’ve all been great players, but they’re at a stage in their career now where you get discovered in the Premier League if you’re not good enough physically.

“Their bodies are not athletic enough, they are not strong enough, they are not fast enough. They have fallen to a level where they can no longer cope with what is required in the Premier League.

“Every player in the Premier League is an absolute machine. They have five percent body fat, they can run, they are strong, they can lead.

“Manchester United have two or three players who just aren’t able to live with that.”

Man Utd travel to arch-rivals Liverpool on Sunday aiming to record back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time under Amorim.

Casemiro is expected to start in central midfield at Anfield, but Scholes believes United were “sucked in” by signing the Brazilian for £70m from Real Madrid three years ago.

“We got dragged into that one, and there were quite a few,” Scholes added.