Manchester United Icon: Red Devils golden boy needs to toughen up

Stoke City manager Mark Hughes believes Manchester United youngsterAdnan Januzaj needs to toughen up and get used to the physicality of the Premier League.

United manager David Moyes called for more protection from referees for his young star following his side’s 3-0 victory at Villa Park at the weekend.

Januzaj was on the end of several challenges and is one of the most fouled players in the league this season.

“A manager will always protect his players and he is an outstanding talent and will be a top United player for many years to come,” said Hughes ahead of United’s visit to the Britannia Stadium for tonight’s Capital One Cup quarter-final.

“If David feels the boy needs protection that is why he has given the response he did, but you have to let kids stand on their two feet and get on with it.

“He seems to garner a lot of fouls and a lot of decisions. In our game he came on as sub and got about five fouls in a very short space of time. At the time I didn’t think they were fouls.”

Former United forward Hughes believes that Januzaj could also learn from Ryan Giggs, who is still playing at the top level at the age of 40.

“Ryan was playing in the Lancashire A and B leagues and had to go to the likes of Marine away,” said Hughes.

“When you are a 14-year-old kid coming up against men you learn to deal with that early and I don’t think it is a bad thing.

“I would imagine he (Giggs) is mentoring him now because he’s been in the same place.”

Only Ross Barkley (43) and Eden Hazard (43) have been fouled more times than Januzaj (35) in the Premier League this season. The United youngster has actually played five and six games less, respectively.