Irish international can be '12-14' goals a season man...
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes that Darron Gibson can develop into the kind of goalscoring midfielder which Paul Scholes has been at Old Trafford over recent years.
Ferguson believes that the Red Devils have lacked a natural goalscorer in midfield when Scholes has not been fit, and he is optimistic that Gibson, who netted his sixth goal of the season last week against Bayern Munich in the Champions League, can develop into that kind of player.
"You saw Gibson's performance against Bayern Munich," the Scot told reporters.
"That was his sixth goal of the season [in all competitions] and you cannot dismiss that.
"It is the kind of contribution we used to get from Paul Scholes. He used to get me 12 to 14 goals from midfield all the time and we haven't had a player like that in a while."
Ferguson also feels that Gibson may well have helped United's campaign significantly if he had played more regularly throughout the season.
"Who is to say if Gibson had been playing all the time where he would be in terms of goals?" Ferguson mused.
"But he is getting recognition now and even the players are commenting on how much he has improved."
Meanwhile, another United midfielder, Owen Hargreaves, may not return from injury until next season, with Ferguson doing little to reassure Red Devils fans that they will see the Canadian-born England international in action again this term.
"It is difficult to say when Owen will be back; he is training well and I had him in the squad for the Chelsea game," said the United manager.
"His training performances have been fine but I think at the moment midfield is not an issue for us because we have plenty of alternatives."
Ferguson believes that the Red Devils have lacked a natural goalscorer in midfield when Scholes has not been fit, and he is optimistic that Gibson, who netted his sixth goal of the season last week against Bayern Munich in the Champions League, can develop into that kind of player.
"You saw Gibson's performance against Bayern Munich," the Scot told reporters.
"That was his sixth goal of the season [in all competitions] and you cannot dismiss that.
"It is the kind of contribution we used to get from Paul Scholes. He used to get me 12 to 14 goals from midfield all the time and we haven't had a player like that in a while."
Ferguson also feels that Gibson may well have helped United's campaign significantly if he had played more regularly throughout the season.
"Who is to say if Gibson had been playing all the time where he would be in terms of goals?" Ferguson mused.
"But he is getting recognition now and even the players are commenting on how much he has improved."
Meanwhile, another United midfielder, Owen Hargreaves, may not return from injury until next season, with Ferguson doing little to reassure Red Devils fans that they will see the Canadian-born England international in action again this term.
"It is difficult to say when Owen will be back; he is training well and I had him in the squad for the Chelsea game," said the United manager.
"His training performances have been fine but I think at the moment midfield is not an issue for us because we have plenty of alternatives."
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