Scholes: No England U-turn

Paul Scholes has insisted there is no chance of him making an England retirement U-turn as the clamour for the Manchester United star to wear the Three Lions on his shirt once more has grown.

The disillusioned midfielder quit England in the wake of Euro 2004 and then rejected Steve McClaren's plea for him to return - and he has no intention of going back on that decision now.

"Yes (it would be the same answer)," Scholes told the Manchester Evening News. "It wasn't about thinking it was too much or I wasn't capable; it was just that when I was playing I was not enjoying it one little bit."

He added: "When Steve McClaren was appointed he rang me and asked me to return. He also came down to training and asked if I fancied it.

"That meant a lot to me, but I don't think I was ever that close that I would have said yes."

Instead, Scholes has spent the last four years concentrating on club matters, overcoming a serious eye complaint to win back-to-back Premier League titles - taking his personal tally to eight - and scoring the decisive semi-final winner against Barcelona as United charged to Champions League glory last term.

Scholes still has plenty of life in his legs too, although he knows Sir Alex Ferguson will have no hesitation telling the Salford-born star when his time is up.

"I am 34 in November and hope to still be playing when I am 35," he said.

"Anything after that will be a bonus. As long as I still feel I am contributing to United, I will carry on."