Manchester United: Shrewsbury manager wants Ryan Giggs to be given a run-out as manager

Shrewsbury manager Micky Mellon believes Ryan Giggs has to be thrown into the deep end for Manchester United to understand if he is ready to take up a managerial position at Old Trafford. The United legend has played second fiddle to both Louis van Gaal and David Moyes, including managing the Red Devils at the end of the 2013/14 season after Moyes was relieved of his services.

However, he is yet to feel the pressure of getting results as United were already out of the race for a top four spot under Moyes and Mellon believes that Giggs has to prove himself that he can live up to expectations if he has to succeed Van Gaal at United. Jose Mourinho is currently primed to take over from the Dutchman, with Inter director Bedy Moratti recently commenting that the Portuguese manager will take over at Old Trafford, but has not given any timeline for his arrival.

United will take on Shrewsbury in the fifth round of the FA Cup where a loss is expected to sound the death knell for Van Gaal's tenure at Old Trafford. The former Barcelona manager is already treading a tight rope after their 2-1 loss to Danish club Midtjylland in the first leg of the Europa League.

"Ryan was very, very clear on the way he wanted the game of football played. I don't buy into the suggestion that he's not forceful enough. He's very steely-minded, very clear about how he wants the game played and has a good presence about him," Mellon said, as quoted by the Mirror.

"But until he is in that technical area and he's been beaten and has things thrown at them, that's when you'll know. You can't role play or read about it in books - you need to be right in the middle of it. The media will be all over him after a defeat at Manchester United. Then he's got to go and pick his team up on Monday. How's he going to react?

"If Louis van Gaal blinks, everyone looks at it and says: 'Was that a blink or a twitch?' Every single thing he does is scrutinised. If you are a manager of Manchester United that's what you get. You might as well enjoy it," he added.