PAUL Scholes joins Manchester United's exclusive 500-club on Sunday with Sir Alex Ferguson predicting his midfielder will be around to terrorise Premiership defences for a few years yet.
Twelve years after marking his Red Devils debut with a League Cup brace against Port Vale, Scholes will become the ninth United player to reach the appearance landmark, following the likes of Sir Bobby Charlton, Bill Foulkes, Denis Irwin and current team-mates Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville.
During the intervening period Scholes has established himself as one of the finest players of his generation.
An intensely private individual, Scholes has always done his talking on the pitch and, even at 31, has shown enough ability this season to persuade England coach Steve McClaren to make two - unsuccessful - attempts to bring him back into the international fold.
His refusal only emphasises how precious Scholes values time with his young family. But the spin-off for United is a fresher player, whom Ferguson believes can extend his career for quite a while yet.
"Paul's lifestyle leads you to think he will be okay for a few years yet," said Ferguson.
"He will need a bit of luck with injuries but he has something you could not possibly coach, which is a marvellous football brain.
"He is able to sense the speed of the game and the openings. It is something he has been able to do since he was 14 and I don't believe there is anyone better at it."
Ferguson also believes Scholes' career has been helped by sharing a dressing room with players, such as David Beckham, who have been happy to bask in the limelight.
Ability
While Beckham soaked up the attention, his fellow 'Class of 92' graduate remained in the shadows, returning to his Saddleworth home, virtually never troubling the headline writers.
"There is no doubt in my mind Paul's ability is recognised outside the club but I do believe the fact there have been more high-profile players with us during his time here suited him," said Ferguson.
"He is a low-key personality, who values his family life and there are very few in the modern game who are quite happy to settle for that.
"Profile and attention do not concern him and he has been allowed a certain privacy that might not normally have been afforded to someone so successful."
After finally overcoming a serious eye complaint which ruled him out of the latter half of last season, Scholes showed he was back to his best with a trademark thunderous finish in Tuesday's Champions League win over FC Copenhagen.
It was his 131st United goal, his first since Boxing Day, a few would bet against him reaching the 150 mark before he finally walks away from the game, in all likelihood a one-club man.
"Paul has been a fantastic servant to us," said Ferguson.
"Given the demands and expectation at this club, to play for such a long time at first-team level is great credit to his endurance.
"We are fortunate in that very few players want to leave this club. But it is not something you take for granted.
"We have had to look after them and I have always told the directors to look after the players we have produced here because sometimes they get left behind when it comes to contracts."
Scholes is not the only United player to reach a personal milestone this weekend as Wayne Rooney is also due to make his 100th appearance.
Both men are sure to be an integral member of the United side which seeks to open an 11-point lead over Liverpool by beating their north-west rivals at Old Trafford.
With only Park Ji-Sung and Mikael Silvestre ruled out, Ferguson has a number of options available, with skipper Neville, Rio Ferdinand and, possibly, Gabriel Heinze all set to be included in a much-changed defence.
Giggs has shrugged off a heavy cold, so he should start on the left flank, with Cristiano Ronaldo taking up the right-sided berth as United look to consolidate their position at the Premiership summit.
Where does Scholes rank among United's all-time greats? Have your say.
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LEGEND. I suppose he is like Sparky in the fact that he does his talking on the pitch. If we can get Owen Hargreaves, he will have more freedom to do what he does best, and that is not tackle !!!!!
He has always been a quiet lad, but on the pitch he's just perfect! I use the word "perfect" because he is! He plays like he has eyes in back of his head and control the midfield with his impressing passing and movement. The best midfileder in the UK without doubt for me. Ive said it before and I can say it again; I would pick Scholesy over Lampard and gerrard any given day! When he one day hang up his boots he will be remembered as one of the best midfielders ever to grace this club.
Can't belive they(M E N) didn't print the following i read somewhere</br>
Low-profile to a fault, the lifelong Oldham Athletic fan baffled a room of foreign reporters at the 2002 World Cup in Japan when quizzed on his favourite footballer.
Ignoring the claims of Pele and Diego Maradona, Scholes went for former Oldham Athletic striker Frankie Bunn.
And when met with puzzled glances, Scholes added: "He scored six times for Oldham in a League Cup tie against Scarborough you know."</br>
<b>Classic Scholes'y</b>
He ranks right up with the very best IMO. Scholes has been my favourite player for years. Its nice to see him returning to form. It would be great if he could do a Giggs and improve with age. I must admit his form over the last couple of years has been very poor but with somebody of his class you can never write him off completely. Its absolutely vital that he has a good season if we are to win things this year. Hes started pretty well so lets hope he can keep it going and score a few goals. An absolute legend in my book. As good as Zidane.
Easily the best English player of his generation and in the first rank of all-time Utd greats. Would love him to score on Sunday.
I thinks its easier to appreciate someone like Cantona and Henry as a genius when they are mysterious and from a foreign country and quite glamorous. When someone from Middleton who keeps out of the spotlight is such a great player it is easy to underestimate them. So in an underestimated perspective I would say that Scholes is the most complete footballer I have ever seen.
Lee, you cannot say he is the most complete footballer you have ever seen (notwithstanding the fact you just have) because he cannot tackle. Incredibly gifted I agree, but not complete.
What a legend. When Scholes is on MU wins. The fact that he cannot tackle shows how good it is to still dominate midfield when he has always been playing in a 4-4-2 unlike Lampard and Gerrard who has got the protection of 2 other fellow CM to express themselves. Scholes, Giggs and Ole should remain in MU for LIFE.
Improve with age? Tackling apart what does he need to improve on? Once we find balance to this side and aid players like Scholesy instead of putting them in positions where they can't fully express themselves, I don't think they'll be too many more inconsistent performances.
paul scholes is easily the best english player we have ever had ,right up there with the best , REAL QUALITY
I didnt say he was complete. Simply the most complete player I have ever seen. He cant tackle but besides that he is top class at everything else.
Okay, enough hyperbole from the Scholes Fan Club members. He's great indeed, but no way is he the greatest. Here's 10 (from United's ENTIRE history, newborns) who were greater than him: Best, Edwards, Meredith, Law, Charlton, Robson, Cantona, Schmeichel, Van Nistelrooy, & Giggs.
he is in mr.charlton class as a player and most imporant as a true gentleman.
Lucas, Space. It doesnt matter what you think a complete player should be. Ronaldinho and Zidane have taken the wpoty award more than once and this fellas dont tackle. You are obsessed about tackling. You can tackle all you want but that is not a must for a player to be complete. You are judged by your role in the team and how effective you are at it. Carlo Ancelloti once said that if there is a United player he would pick for his side it would be Paul Scholes and the great Zidane said he loves Scholesy's style of player. Myself I could not miss a chance to salute a TRUE LEGEND. The 18, 11 and 20 jerseys should be retired for a year at least when each of the players wearing them now retires. Standing ovation for Scholesy tomorrow. What a footballing brain!!
If he was as good looking as Beckham and wasn't a Ging, then he would be constantly the best player of the year in all circles, God have pity on the Gings, like Lee in Heywood and Bobbydazzler.....
Paul Scholes, United legend and nice fella, used to see him down Simister Lane all the time on Sunday afternoons...