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Scholes the master at 500 mark

Premiership | Manchester United

by Phil McNulty - BBC Sport

Paul Scholes is not the man to celebrate a major Manchester United landmark with a fanfare or a blaze of publicity.

The 31-year-old, a genuine modern-day Old Trafford great, lets football do his talking.

And 131 goals in 499 games for Manchester United speaks volumes.

It is also a measure of his influence that he will reach the 500 mark against Liverpool as a hugely influential part of Sir Alex Ferguson's plans to return the title to Old Trafford.

Scholes emerged as part of United's golden group of young talent in the early 90s along with David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and the Neville brothers.

He was arguably the most under-stated of the group, but has done as much to shape Manchester United's successes as any of the aforementioned.

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."

Such was the dead-pan expression, no-one could tell whether his tongue was drilling a hole in his cheek.

Scholes has returned to form this season after missing much of last term with a worrying eye condition.

And it was a measure of the respect and admiration for Scholes within the game that new England coach Steve McClaren twice tried - and failed - to coax him out of international retirement.

Scholes opened his Manchester United career with two goals in a League Cup tie at Port Vale in 1994, and has never looked back.

He had all the goalscoring gifts to be as natural striker, but such was his all-round game intelligence that he was a perfect fit as the link betwen midfield and attack.

To this end, you can add countless crucial assists to his 131 goals.

Scholes' trademark is his clinical approach - to passing and finishing.

And in his manager Ferguson, he has his biggest fan.

No-one at Old Trafford ever under-estimates the contribution of Scholes, even if getting the man himself to discuss it remains almost impossible.

Least of all Ferguson, who beams in delight when Scholes delivers a moment of brilliance or looks astonished when a pass or scoring chance goes astray.

England never saw the best of Scholes in his latter years and he announced his retirement from international football after a disappointing Euro 2004.

Scholes' goal against Croatia in Lisbon was his first for his country in three years.

He received much unwarranted criticism and calls for his exclusion - but he was a victim of cir*****stances.

In his desire to field all his best players, and fit square pegs into round holes, Sven-Goran Eriksson played Scholes on the left side of a desperately ill-fitting midfield format.

Scholes' sphere of influence was reduced as he was forced to the margins of England games, and may even have played a part in his decision to back away from internationals.

Manchester United did not complain, hoping this would further extend a brilliant career.

If there is one weakness in Scholes' game, it is his occasionally impetuous tackling.

And this led to the biggest disappointment of his career, when he was suspended for the Champions League final win against Bayern Munich in 1999.

There may still be time for Scholes to fill that gap in a bulging trophy cabinet.

And one thing is certain - United have a better chance of achieving that dream with Scholes than without him.

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