Sir Bobby delighted with Scholes return

Sir Bobby Charlton has described Sir Alex Ferguson’s decision to bring back Paul Scholes as ‘one of the best pieces of news I have ever had’.

Manchester United announced the 37-year-old, who retired at the end of last season, would be returning until the end of the current campaign, and the midfielder came on as a substitute in their 3-2 FA Cup third-round win over rivals Manchester City.

Scholes scored the opening goal of the game in United’s 3-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers on Saturday and club legend Charlton believes the team is lucky to have him among their ranks once again.

“I have been more upbeat since I heard about Paul Scholes returning to the squad,” he told United Review.

“It is one of the best pieces of news I have ever had. He is a sensational footballer and we are very lucky to have him.”

“Maybe the one thing Sir Alex had given a bit of thought to was that we needed a creative player in midfield.”

“Suddenly there is a knock on the door and it is Paul Scholes saying he wants to play again. Alex must have thought it was Christmas all over again.”

Scholes’ team-mate Patrice Evra, meanwhile, said the former England midfielder looks like he has never been away from the game.

“Scholesy is a dinosaur,” Evra said. “The boss said that about him, Giggsy, (Gary) Neville and (Edwin) van der Sar.”

“Scholesy should never stop. Now the manager gave a gift to us, because it looked like he never stopped.”

“I am so happy he is back. We need a player like that if we want to win the league.”