Paul Scholes asked to rank his top Man Utd midfielders and one surprise player is above Roy Keane

Paul Scholes was asked to rank his top Manchester United midfielders and picked one player ahead of long-time colleague Roy Keane.

Scholes played in midfield alongside the Irishman from 1994 right up until Keane's departure in 2005.

They won six Premier League titles together and despite being very different players, both are considered to be two of the very best midfielders in history.

One-club man Scholes is returning to the pitch against Celtic legends on Saturday 7 September and ahead of his appearance, he joined the United foundation in putting on sessions for youngster as the Stretford school.

While there, the 49-year-old took part in a 'winner stays on' challenge where he was asked to choose between players who have played in midfield for United.

Two options were given to the former England international and he had to select one.

Darren Fletcher and Anderson was the first showdown, with the former getting the nod.

Nicky Butt then got some recognition, with Scholes picking him ahead of Nobby Stiles, himself, Michael Carrick and Bastian Schweinsteiger.

But when fellow Class of 92 graduate Butt was paired with current wonderkid Kobbie Mainoo, Scholes sided with the latter quite easily.

Keane beat Mainoo and then both Paul Ince and Juan Sebastian Veron but could not make it a clean sweep.

Keane was pitted against another legendary United skipper Bryan Robson and you could tell it was an immensely difficult one for him to decide.

After a few seconds hesitating, Scholes felt he had to go with Robson, who he admitted was his hero growing up.

His praise of Mainoo is no surprise as he's constantly been showing the young midfielder with compliments.

At one point he even took to Instagram to say Mainoo was "10 times the player" he was at the same age.

Image: Getty

He wrote: “Read a few comparisons between me and this kid last week… don’t waste your time, he is 10 times the player I was at 18. Just love the way he receives the ball, the calmness, the awareness of what’s around him and of course big goals in big games. The boy is special… and he’s a f***ing Red… laters.”