Pallister backing ‘Ooh, ah Santona’

TIP: Gary Pallister GARY PALLISTER is backing Alexis Sanchez to have an Eric Cantonastyle impact at Manchester United.

The former United and England central defender played alongside the inspirational Frenchman in Sir Alex Ferguson’s exciting side in the 1990s.

Cantona had United’s iconic No.7 shirt, previously worn by George Best and Bryan Robson and later by David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo.

That shirt number is now the property of Sanchez, who made his debut for United at Yeovil on Friday night after arriving from Arsenal in a swap deal for Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

And Pallister said: “We used to say we had a great formula one car but we didn’t have the driver.

“Eric then became the driver of that car. I think the same could maybe happen with Sanchez.

“He’s a dynamic player and he’s got an edge to him as well. I like that.

“I think he could maybe change the way that Man United approach a game.

“I’m just pleased that he’s here. He is going to add a different dimension to Manchester United.”

Sanchez, 29, played for 71 minutes in United’s 4-0 win at Yeovil, where Marcus Rashford, Ander Herrera, Jesse Lingard and Romelu Lukaku were the scorers.

He is now due to play against Tottenham at Wembley on Wednesday then is expected to make his home debut against Huddersfield on Saturday.

His arrival at Old Trafford has taken the pressure off Zlatan Ibrahimovic to make a speedy return.

United boss Jose Mourinho is understood to have told the Swedish striker, 36, not to rush his comeback.

Ibra has been ordered to rest his knee injury, believed to be tendinitis.

The problem is in his other knee to the one operated on for cruciate ligament damage.

Ibrahimovic, though, has also been assured by Mourinho that he still has a role to play at United this season.

And he was running well in training at Carrington two days ago.

Despite Mourinho’s “no pressure” message he could rejoin first-team training by the end of this week.

*Pallister was interviewed on

AskFans.co.uk