Manchester United legend Wilf McGuiness believes youngster Giuseppe Rossi is ready to make the big switch from reserve and youth team football to senior action next season.

The 18-year-old has been a breath of fresh air in Ricky Sbragia's second-string since his summer move from Parma, netting 17 goals and picking up the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award.

Italian forward Rossi has already made his first-team debut however, albeit in a Carling Cup fixture with Crystal Palace last November.

"I watched Rossi score a hat-trick in the Reserves' play-off win over Charlton: absolute class," claimed former Old Trafford favourite Wilf McGuiness. "He’s got a magic wand of a left foot, and he can use his right to deadly effect as well."

"He’s developing well. But there is no need to get too carried away. You have to put it into perspective. There’s a young lad in the reserve team playing lovely football. That’s the stage he is at in his career and he has to be allowed to develop.

"The Premiership is a very big jump. However, if he keeps playing well at reserve level, that gets noted by the manager and his staff and they will pick the right time for him to make that jump."

McGuiness added: "We’re all hoping he gets the opportunities next season. I’m sure he will because people think very highly of him at the club."

Rossi will face tough competition however, with the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Wayne Rooney, Alan Smith, Louis Saha, David Bellion and the returning Ole Gunnar Solskjaer pushing for a place.