Scholes to pass 600 milestone

Manchester Utd v Portsmouth:IT IS not only on the field that Paul Scholes has been regarded as untouchable. The player that Zinedine Zidane described as "the greatest midfielder of his generation" is expected to make his 600th appearance for Manchester United in tonight's game against Portsmouth, yet it is intriguing to learn that the landmark will pass without Alex Ferguson ever having received an offer for the 34-year-old.

“Funnily enough we have never had one inquiry and you know why?” said Ferguson.

“Maybe he has had private situations where people have begged him to join them because that is how it happens with agents phoning up and all that nonsense.

“They all know he wouldn’t want to leave here.”

So it appears. Scholes, who has been on the Old Trafford payroll since 1991, is United through and through. Only three players have made more United appearances – Ryan Giggs, Bobby Charlton and Bill Foulkes – while his record of 142 goals means he sits 12th in the club’s all-time scoring list. Those are the personal statistics but for evidence of his wider contribution the best place to look is the Old Trafford trophy cabinet.

From the moment that he made his debut in 1994, Scholes has been one of the club’s most influential figures.

A man of few words off the pitch, he could not be more expressive on it, whether delivering one of his glorious crossfield passes or, as was so often the case in his earlier days, arriving into the penalty area with perfect timing.

“At United, you can go back to the Best, Law and Charlton era,” said Ferguson. “Before that you have Duncan Edwards. “You are talking a wide panorama of players.

“In my time he would sit in the top six or seven (United players) without question,” said Ferguson. “His contribution and his quality and some of the fantastic goals he has scored have been great. Even on Sunday (against Everton), when he came on his first touch of the ball was better than anybody else had done for the whole previous hour. He has that wonderful velvet touch that means it just goes dead when he gets it. Amidst all of the mayhem in a game it is wonderful to see that.”

With such technique it is easy to understand why Ferguson says Scholes “could have played in any league in Europe – no problem”.

Ferguson points out that, but for two knee operations and the eye condition that required him to have a complete rest for six months, Scholes, who has one more year on his contract at Old Trafford, would be approaching the 700 rather than 600 milestone tonight. No matter. Those who have seen the former England international over the past 15 years feel privileged rather than short-changed.

“I have no hesitation in putting a name to the embodiment of all that I think is best about football. It’s Paul Scholes,” Bobby Charlton said earlier this season. “Many great players have worn the shirt of Manchester United. Players I worshipped, then lost with my youth in Munich. Players like Denis Law and George Best who I enjoyed so much as team-mates and now, finally, players I have watched closely in the Alex Ferguson era. And in so many ways Scholes is my favourite.”

Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney are among the big names who will return for United at Old Trafford this evening

Edwin van der Sar, John O’Shea and Darren Fletcher also stayed at home as United bowed out of the FA Cup to Everton on Sunday, while Michael Carrick is attempting to shrug off a minor knock.

Giggs, Scholes, Dimitar Berbatov and Patrice Evra are all expected to return in a starting line-up containing only Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic from the semi-final team.

Niko Kranjcar is out of Portsmouth’s trip to United after damaging an ankle in the Premier League win over Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.

Defender Younes Kaboul is also likely to miss out with torn fibres in a thigh muscle which could mean England right-back Glen Johnson reverting to his more familiar role and Jermaine Pennant recalled in midfield.

Kanu and Nadir Belhadj were match-winning late substitutes against Bolton but with Sean Davis still fit despite reopening a wound in his knee, manager Paul Hart could bring back Richard Hughes or Angelos Basinas in a tight central midfield trio also featuring Hayden Mullins, and stick with David Nugent on the left.

Guardian Service