IF YOU SAY IT OFTEN ENOUGH…

"Watching him play and come back like that is like buying a £20m player and I really mean that. He has returned as good as ever and I am so pleased about that. He is such a relaxed player and he brings calmness to midfield when he's in there.

"I don't mind United being 100 mph at times. I like us to be on the front foot but it was too much last season. If I have a criticism of them it was that the ball was like a hot potato in midfield last season.

"We lost the ball so many times and expended so much energy winning it back. It was crying out for Scholesy.

"The same with England. England needed his composure in Germany. Steve Gerrard and Frank Lampard are two great players but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out they can't play together. Having Paul in there would have made a big difference if he had been played in his correct position.

"But it is United who are going to get the benefit of his return and that's great. He's been missed.

"I think we can expect to see him for a number of years yet. I know many United fans feared that after Paul quit England he might suddenly finish at United at any time as well.

"I know him very well but I would never ask what's in his mind about things like that. He's very enthusiastic and hates missing a day's training but I suspected that he might have gone when he was around 33.

"However, I think this break away from the game because of his eye complaint may have changed things.

"He was always upbeat when I rang him whilst he was sidelined. I never got the impression he was depressed or worried about it.

"But you can't help wonder when you have mystery things like that with your vision, that in those quiet private moments at home if it goes through your mind that it might all be over for football.

"I think he has probably sat there at times when he couldn't train or play and thought about what he was missing.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he decided at those times that he would carry on for Manchester United as long as he possibly could.

"He's great for the spirit on the pitch too. I thought his contribution against Celtic for instance the other night summed him up.

"He can strike a super free-kick but even as the senior man out there he didn't demand the set-pieces and let the younger lads have a go. And he was the first to congratulate Jonny Evans when he scored.

"The young lads appreciate that, just like Paul would have done when he first came into the senior side. They look up to him and he's vital to have in that dressing room.

"Carrick is a super passer of the ball. He can play that decisive ball but so can Paul and Michael doesn't score goals in the air, inside the box or produce rocket shots outside of the area like Scholesy does," Eric added.

"When I was working for Wales we played Italy in a European qualifier and it was the first time I had ever seen Pirlo in the flesh and I thought then what a player the lad was.

"He also had a terrific World Cup - but Scholesy is better than Pirlo. I'd rather have Paul than the Italian again because as well as everything else he scores goals. Pirlo only gets them from free-kicks.

"I watched as many matches in Germany as I could and I can honestly say I never saw anyone at the World Cup who could do the job Paul does better than he can. He was as good as anyone who was out there.

"If United need to look for anyone in midfield then it is a Makelele-type. Milan's Gennaro Gattuso is the one I like.

"But as for looking for a Paul Scholes-type I wouldn't bother. United already have the best and his comeback has confirmed that for me."