Matt Le Tissier has warned Manchester United supporters that they made need to be patient with their January signing Wilfried Zaha.
The 20-year-old agreed to join the Red Devils for a reported £15m from Crystal Palace during the most recent winter transfer window, but was loaned back to the Eagles for the remainder of the campaign.
He will link up with his new teammates next month for pre-season training, with many pundits having tipped him to make a success of his stint at Old Trafford.
However, speaking to Sports Mole, Southampton legend Le Tissier conceded that the Ivory Coast-born attacker may "take a bit of time" to adapt to life with the Premier League champions.
"He might take a bit of time to make it there. He's still a little bit rough around the edges. A lot of the time I've watched him he does a lot of tricks but at times his final balls are a little bit wayward," said Le Tissier.
"But I played in an era when Ryan Giggs grew up and for the first few years Ryan's final ball was a little bit dodgy and look at the career that he has gone on to have. [Zaha] has got loads of ability, he'll get better, but it may take a little bit of time with him."
Having helped Palace to gain promotion to the top flight via the playoffs, some reports had linked Zaha with another loan spell at Selhurst Park. Le Tissier, however, believes that he possesses enough experience now to start his career with United.
"I'm not sure if they will play him on that regular of basis because they've got a good squad up there and they tend to rotate. I think he might be a little in and out during the first season. But if he does get himself in and produce the goods on a regular basis, I'm sure that David Moyes will keep him in the side," he added.
"It's a difficult one. He's had enough games to not go out on loan. He's spent the second half of last season on loan [at Palace]. He should be old enough to be able to try and make an impression there and not go out on loan."
Zaha is currently part of the England Under-21 squad that is in Israel for the European Championships.
Matt Le Tissier was speaking at the Samsung Experience Store, Westfield, Stratford, at the launch of Samsung Win A Pro Contract, a nationwide competition where amateur footballers can win one-year professional contracts at Swindon Town, Leyton Orient and Wycombe Wanderers. Register for a trial at facebook.com/samsungfootball.
Liam Apicella
