Manchester United legend Andy Cole believes Shiniji Kagawa will bounce back

Manchester United legend Andy Cole believes that marginalised midfielder Shinji Kagawa will bounce back after having failed to secure regular game time this season.

Since David Moyes took charge at Old Trafford, the Japanese international has not managed to impress the Scot and has slipped down the pecking order in his preferred midfield role.

The 24-year-old has made just nine Premier League appearances and was even linked with a move to Turkey such is his frustration at the current situation at the Red Devils, but former striker Cole is adamant he can return stronger from his latest setback.

“He is a quality player but he is not the only one who is finding it hard to get regular football. There are many top players in the squad and there is plenty of competition.

“But having seen Shinji play at (Borussia) Dortmund, I know for sure how good he is. He was the best player in Germany for two years. I believe he’ll come back with some good displays,” he told the club’s official website.

Moyes’ debut season at United’s helm has been a disappointment, with the club currently languishing in seventh place and 12 points off the top four pace. However, Cole, a treble winner with the club, believes a Champions League place should remain the club’s target during the run-in.

“We need to win as many games as possible and a top-four finish is still a realistic target.

“For whatever reason, it has been a tough season. But all the top teams will try to get better and we need to stay with them next year,” he declared.

With just 11 games to go, United’s hopes of securing a place in Europe’s pinnacle competition are fading fast and players such as Kagawa need to improve for the remainder of the campaign or risk being deemed surplus to requirements by Moyes, who is expected to engineer an overhaul of his squad in the summer.