What now for James Wilson? Man Utd's forgotten next big star

Ryan Giggs says James Wilson is "a natural goalscorer, but he has more to his game than that," while Nicky Butt reckons he is "unbelievable in the six-yard box." It is fair to say that the striker comes highly recommended by Manchester United legends who remain influential at Old Trafford due to their prominent positions on the coaching staff.

They even gave him his first-team debut back in 2014 when Giggs was in temporary charge after David Moyes' sacking, and Wilson responded by netting twice against Hull City. Butt was one of the old pals the Welshman called upon to assist him as caretaker boss, and he told Giggs ahead of Wilson's debut that the front man "has got the best standing spring you’ve ever seen in your life."

Yet little more than 12 months on, Wilson is finding life tough under Louis van Gaal. Having watched Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao leave the club over the summer, the 19-year-old might have expected to see more first-team opportunities fall his way. So far, though, he has not made a single 18-man squad this season after nine matches, and the arrival of Anthony Martial from Monaco has only made his future more uncertain.

Paul Scholes was another star name in Giggs' support team back in 2014, but while he too has also spoken highly of Wilson in the past, he warned in April that the youngster hadn't done enough to show he can be a United regular.

"James Wilson has been given a number of chances this season and, although he has done well, at no point has he made it impossible for Louis van Gaal to leave him out," Scholes told The Independent.