Danny Ings would be a “great” signing for Man Utd, says Paul Ince

Paul Ince believes Danny Ings is a “great shout” to replace Marcus Rashford as Manchester United temporarily begin life without him.

The 22-year-old marksman is reportedly sidelined for up to three months after sustaining a serious back injury.

How can Man Utd replace Rashford? Five key things to know…

• Rashford is Man Utd’s top scorer this season on 19 goals in all competitions.
• He’s set to miss the next few months after picking up a serious back injury.
• United could dip into the January transfer market either making a permanent signing or a loan one.
• Ince has urged his former club to look at Edinson Cavani or Danny Ings.
• Ings has bagged 14 goals in this season’s Premier League, the same amount as Rashford.

His injury comes at a bad time for the record 20-time English champions, who have been grateful for his goalscoring. Rashford is Man Utd’s leading scorer on 19 goals in all competitions.

In what has been another chaotic season for the Old Trafford-based club, the former Red Devil academy graduate has continually stood up and been counted. Rashford’s absence will undoubtedly give manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a conundrum he didn’t need.

Emerging star Mason Greenwood could potentially be in line for more regular playing time, slotting into the wide berth Rashford nominally plays from. However, former midfielder Ince has urged his former club to dip into the transfer window.

There’s been reports United could sign a player on a six-month loan to fill the gap (à la Henrik Larsson in 2007), but Ince feels otherwise, adding that a proven goalscorer needs to be signed on a permanent basis, citing Edinson Cavani and Ings — who’s on the same amount of Premier League goals (14) as Rashford this season — as who he’d consider.

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“United have to consider who’s actually going to be available,” he told Paddy Power.

“Who in their right mind as a manager wants to give up a prolific goalscorer in January? There’s not that much available.

“For me, Edinson Cavani is the ideal choice, if he even wants to come to England. If United can get hold of him, then they should go for it.

“He’s going to be big money and he’s the wrong side of 30 which is a bit worrying, but I’m not sure United are in the place to be picky at the moment.”

“Someone like Danny Ings would also be a great shout, he’s scoring goals for fun at the moment,” he added.

“Obviously, Southampton fans won’t want to hear that, but if you want someone who’s in form and scoring goals, Ings could be a good, proven choice.

“The thing is, whoever United go to now, they’re going to be ripped off – they reek of desperation because of Rashford’s injury.

“Top four was already tough, whether Rashford was playing or not. It’s obviously just gotten a whole lot harder.

“Without signing someone to score goals this window, they’ll struggle, but if they sign Cavani, I fancy them to get in the top four – that’s for sure.”