This article is part of Football FanCast's Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers...

As quoted by Sky Sports, Ryan Giggs has said Daniel James was simply being "streetwise" when he fell down to the turf in Wales' clash with Croatia.

What did he say?

Since arriving from Swansea this summer, James has been a revelation for Manchester United with his early season contributions. The 21-year-old has scored three times in the Premier League already for his new side, but he has come under some criticism for falling to ground far too easily - he was booked against both Wolves and Crystal Palace in successive matches over apparent simulation.

Watch how to cross the road like a boss with freestyler Ben Nuttall in the video below...

On Sunday, the winger appeared to be involved in a nasty collision with Croatia's Domagoj Vida, and looked to have lost consciousness when he hit the ground. However, James returned to the action after lengthy treatment, and speaking following the end of the match, Giggs provided an explanation as to why he didn't go off.

He said: "The physio came over but there was no problem. We did all the (concussion) tests at half-time and he was fine. He stayed down and was a bit streetwise. He told the doctors 'I'm not moving, I'm just sitting still'. Not to get anyone sent off, he was just using his nous."

Shocking

Whether Giggs thought his comments were intended as a compliment of James' grasp of the dark arts remains unclear. But the fact the Wales boss used the word "streetwise" when the entire stadium and those watching at home thought there was something seriously wrong with the United prospect, is deeply worrying.

Watch Manchester United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Gamesmanship has always been intrinsically linked with sport. Trying to gain an advantage, duping oppositions players and referees, and doing anything and everything you can to find a win for your side has been part and parcel of any competitive event. But with football's concerning history with head injuries - Petr Cech and Ryan Mason most notably - Giggs and James have brought shame on themselves.

Peter McCabe, chief executive of brain injury charity Headway, delivered a stinging rebuke of the duo's actions.

"Ryan Giggs' claim that the player was being 'streetwise' by staying down and appearing to have been knocked out is shocking. If that is the case and James was 'acting', it raises serious questions about the player's understanding of the seriousness of concussion. It is simply not acceptable for teams to use concussion protocols for tactical gain."

For a player who is already beginning to develop an unwanted reputation for diving, the last thing he needed was for the spotlight to be turned up a notch. Both Giggs and James have done themselves, Manchester United, and the entire footballing community, an entire disservice with their disgraceful actions.