Sir Alex Ferguson has told Paul Scholes he would be wrong to answer England’s Euro 2012 SOS – but the United manager wants his veteran midfielder to forget about retiring at the end of the season.
Scholes made the shock decision to pull his boots back on last month after calling time on his playing career last May.
The 37-year-old has been in sensational form since his comeback – re-energising United’s title challenge and even prompting calls for him to come out of international retirement as well.
Harry Redknapp – who is favourite to succeed Fabio Capello as England manager – further fuelled that talk by admitting he’d love to see Scholes (pictured) play for his country again.
And after the midfielder admitted he wrestled with the prospect of playing at the 2010 World Cup, it is thought he could be tempted ahead of this summer’s European Championships.
However, Ferguson as good as dismissed any chance of Scholes playing for the Three Lions again – but believes he still has plenty to offer at Old Trafford.
“I think his reason for refusing last time was that it was late in the day and he felt the players who had got them there should be involved,” said
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Fergie. “Two years on, to go back again, I think Paul will be concentrating on United – if he decides to go on, of course. We’ve not spoken about that.
“It’s too big a step to go back to England.”
Ferguson is now ready to hand Scholes a new one-year deal after already tying Ryan Giggs down for another 12 months.
“It’s hard to describe Scholes, honestly,” he said. “On Saturday he was unbelievable.
“When he decided to come back I was delighted – no negatives at all. He started training very hard in the couple of months before he came to see me and he had obviously realised he had made a mistake.
“He has come back refreshed, enthusiastic, and just his normal self. Being out first in training sessions. There has been an amazing turn about for us in the sense of the order and class he brings to the team.”
Meanwhile, Ferguson has welcomed the end of the Luis Suarez affair, following Liverpool’s apologies for the Uruguayan’s failure to shake hands with Patrice Evra last weekend.
He said: “We’re all delighted we’ve put that in the past. Both clubs have got great history. Sometimes we lose, sometimes we win, but we both need each other, no doubt.”
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I think the prolonged rest for Scholes has been good for him and us. After his "retirement" he's come back even better than he was in recent years. Even his tackling has improved. We've got our Scholesy back!!!!!
As for Ingerlund, it's Scholesy's call. Fergie obviously wants him to concentrate on United!
Seen a report somewhere that Mancini wants Balotelli to behave for the rest of the season, that's like telling a frog not to be a frog.
Looking forward to the match against Ajax tonight. I'll be watching from Soweto in the West of Johannesburg, South Africa.
G! G! Man United!
Wise words yet again from our illustrious manager. Heed them, our Paul. Your displays since your return have been phenomenal, far beyond what I initially thought was possible.
Take a well earned rest in the Summer and come back refreshed for your final(?) season wearing our beloved shirt!
United 'til I die!
Why not? He is still good enough to perform on the international stage, so he should go for it if he gets the call. He is not going to play every game for Manchester United if he continues next season, so the international games would keep him fresh. Plus, what a story or way to end a spectacular career if he went on to win the Cup with England!
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has conceded he got it wrong in Europe this season. United ended up in a do-or-die confrontation with Basel in December which they were unable to conquer not just Europe he is getting more things wrong the older he has got.Nothing more stupid than Giggs could be Manchester United manager replacing one liar for another.
Giggs is not good enough Fergie according to the papers is interested in lots of players truth in its all hot hair he did not buy never even tried.
Why is it too big a step to go back to England? Frankly, I don't care if he does or not, I just feel Fergie has double standards. He claims that Scholes is good enough for United, even though we have needed to replace him for the past 3-4 years already, and now he doesn't want him to play for England.
Scholes is one of the few players who would put England in with a chance of winning in the summer - just imagine: a midfield 3 of Scholes, Carrick and Cleverley with Welbeck and Rooney ahead of them - they'd never have it so good...!!
Scholes has played very well showed how poor our midfield really is now we have wobbles in defence as well.
Dont listen to a jock scholesy, he wouldn,t do anything to help England mate.
At his age, Paul Scholes needs to be played sparingly as he needs rest and it would be inconceivable that he would be able to play every few days as is required in tournament play. So, would you take someone like Paul Scholes (and, perhaps, Ledley King, who is another falling into the 'good but' category) and disrupt the team to accommodate him when he's fit/refreshed? Before you answer that question, think for a minute, and then decide whether Paul should go to the European finals in the summer. End of debate......
Beware Paul, not to disappoint comrade Stalin.
Asking a Scotsman to pick the England team!
It was just after the final whistle in Basel that i thought that i couldn't watch united play in EUROPA but i think i was wrong! i will have to watch my beloved team play any where at any time! C'mon you guys make a RWANDAN proud of his team
Without Scholes in the English midfield there's no chance for success. Jack Wilshire still too young and rusty to command that position in a big tournament. I'd love to see
Scholesy play for England, just don't see it happening unless of course he's picked
and he decided not to play for United next season, in which case the Euros could be his
swansong. Hopefully Scholes rests this summer and comes back for United in August.
I don't care if he's 50 years old, watching the master pass the ball, wow, exhilerating!
Up the Reds!
As this story is just an expansion of the story that appeared in one of the tabloids this morning, are to assume James that you have given up on investigatitive journalism?