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Paul Scholes believes it is a "problem" that Wayne Rooney is playing in midfield for Manchester United.

Yet you'll never guess who said: "Wayne Rooney has got all the ability to take over my old position at Manchester United."

That's right, Paul Scholes.

And wait, there's more.

"I would play Wayne Rooney in midfield... He is the best passer in the team and he can play that midfield role better than anyone."

The latter came, rather embarrassingly, in the same newspaper Scholes has commented in today on Rooney's "problem".

Pundits are entitled to alter their opinions however Scholes' smacks of an agenda against Louis van Gaal.

He described United's football as 'miserable', which many would agree with, and Van Gaal genuinely seems to be the only man on the planet who is adamant Rooney brings 'better balance' to United's midfield.

Supporters are clamouring for Rooney to return up front at the expense of Radamel Falcao and Robin van Persie, a partnership of 'strangers', as Scholes justifiably described them.

The problem Scholes has is he is not just contradicting himself but offering no perspective.

Scholes, like the other members of the Class of '92 clique, has ignored Sir Alex Ferguson's role in coaching the joy out of Rooney.

Rooney's final days under Ferguson's management were spent in midfield. That compelled him to visit Ferguson to seek clarification over his future role at the club, which Ferguson translated as a transfer request - something Rooney privately denied.

Ferguson had earmarked Shinji Kagawa as Rooney's replacement and it was David Moyes who revived Rooney's United career after it flatlined before Van Gaal spoilt Rooney further by making him captain.

Rooney daren't visit Van Gaal at his Carrington office now he has a contract worth in excess of £200,000 a week. He still craves to be mollycoddled, though, with a move up front.

Van Gaal's decision to switch Rooney to defensive midfield against Burnley was a necessary evil. Darren Fletcher left for West Brom last week, Michael Carrick was sidelined, Daley Blind was unable to continue, and Marouane Fellaini was not a viable holding midfielder.

And Rooney had actually played in that role before.

Six days after Manchester City stormed the abandoned gates to put six past United, Ferguson used Rooney as a midfielder at Everton.

Tom Cleverley's injury in the 56th minute pushed Rooney further back and United ground out a gritty 1-0 win at Goodison Park, triggering a miserly run in which United conceded just two goals in nine Premier League games.

Rooney remained in midfield against Otelul Galati and Sunderland before he was restored up front against Swansea, as Ferguson turned to Michael Carrick to hold the fort in midfield.

Van Gaal wants another defensive midfielder and Kevin Strootman's arrival should signal the end for Rooney's midfield stint. The Netherlands' 4-3-3 formation under Van Gaal hinged on Strootman and was abandoned when the Roma midfielder suffered a knee injury last year. Van Gaal was even happy to abandon Toni Kroos' protracted to transfer to United and wait for Strootman.

With Blind and Carrick out of the Preston North End FA Cup tie, Rooney will almost certainly continue in midfield and that is not as disheartening a prospect as Phil Jones patrolling the middle third.

Scholes' mate and England coach, Gary Neville, said recently he 'would love to see Wayne Rooney back in a centre-forward’s role', which makes you wonder why England ostracised him to the left wing against Italy in Manaus.

It is unfair to bemoan just Van Gaal over the waste of talent that is Rooney when his malaise can be traced back to a left-wing role at Benfica back in September 2006, the first time he truly accommodated Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Class of '92 and Phil Neville have no sway anymore at Old Trafford and it is sometimes evident in their analysis.

Scholes' problem is he is blinkered.

Click below for a gallery of United's win over Burnley: