Man Utd legend Ryan Giggs backs Dan James to bounce back next season after hitting form with Wales
RYAN GIGGS is adamant Dan James can rediscover his best form at Manchester United – by shining for Wales this week.
James, 22, made just one Premier League start following lockdown and that was United‘s returning game at Tottenham on June 19.
Red Devils’ boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer appeared to lose faith in James, whose Old Trafford career started with a bang, scoring three goals in his first four games.
James has just scored once more in his next 42 club games and he spent most of the season resumption on the bench following the emergence of Mason Greenwood.
But Giggs believes Wales’ Nations League double-header against Finland and Bulgaria can be just the tonic for flying winger James to regain his confidence ahead of the new season when United kick-off against Crystal Palace on September 19.
Giggs said: “Sometimes the players that don’t necessarily play all the time for their clubs, it gives them a chance to get some minutes, try and get some form to go back to their clubs and show them what they can do.
He was not playing regularly near the end of the season but in the long run that can help and improve you.
Ryan Giggs on Daniel James
“Perhaps DJ is in that camp. United start a week later but DJ will turn up fit and raring to go, I’m sure.
“He’s a player I know well. He had a really good start to his United career but he was not playing regularly towards the end of the season but sometimes in the long run that can help and improve you.
“DJ has always been great when he has come into camp.”
Giggs gave ex-team-mate Solskjaer a glowing reference before United signed James in a £15million deal from Swansea last summer.
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The Wales boss had already handed the wideman his international debut in a friendly defeat against Albania in November 2018.
But the Old Trafford legend believes James has the right mentality to bounce back and showcase his talents at club level once again.
Giggs will need James to be at his best after the Dragons chief suffered four withdrawals to his squad on Sunday night; Aaron Ramsey, David Brooks, Ashley Williams and Tyler Roberts.
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Giggs added: “His rise has been pretty quick over 18 months, two years.
“He was out of the team. You might not like it and you might want to be involved. You can have a different perspective of things.
“Knowing Dan, the way that he is a professional and wants to improve, trains well and his attitude I am sure he will be better for it.”