King Eric’s back for Paul’s big night

Paul Scholes will have the opportunity to bid a final, fond farewell to his adoring Manchester United faithful in a playing capacity tonight, as the Old Trafford legend will see his career celebrated with a well-deserved testimonial.

The midfield magician decided to lower the curtain on his illustrious career at the end of last season, which brought to an end 20 glorious years on the books at United.

Eric Cantona's New York Cosmos will provide the competition for United this evening, with a squad including greats of the Barclays Premier League and European football.

And Scholes, modest as ever, has deflected all the attention away from himself, and instead suggests the sell-out crowd at the Theatre of Dreams are more interested in witnessing King Eric's return.

"He's probably the reason we've sold the tickets," Scholes told MUTV. "It will mean a lot to the fans as obviously he was a massive idol here and it's somebody all our fans absolutely love.


 

"I think it's great that he's coming back in a different role from being a player and everyone's looking forward to it.

"He was brilliant. He was an example to us to see how you should really work in training and, no matter how talented you are, that you have to put the effort in. He was a prime example for us young lads to watch and grow up and learn off."
 

United (from): De Gea, Kuszczak, Lindegaard, Amos; Evra, Jones, Ferdinand, Smalling, Vidic, Fabio, Rafael, Evans; Anderson, Giggs, Park, Carrick, Nani, Scholes, Young, Fletcher, Valencia, Obertan, Gibson, Cleverley, Pogba, Norwood, Morrison; Owen, Berbatov, Rooney, Welbeck, Macheda, Diouf.

Cosmos (from): Friedel, Calderone; Neville, Bridge, Cannavaro, Campbell, Salgado, Reyering, Murphy; Vieira, Pires, Butt, Diaby, Iraheta, Gaitan; Yorke, Keane, Dimitrov, McBride.