Fergie backs Scholes with new deal

ALEX FERGUSON has no doubt Paul Scholes will continue to be a massive influence at Manchester United after handing the veteran midfielder a contract extension that will keep him at Old Trafford until 2010.

Scholes suffered a major blow on Tuesday when he suffered knee ligament damage against Aalborg which will rule him out until mid-December.

He is 34 next month, and his contract had been due to expire in the summer, and youngsters such as Anderson, Darren Fletcher and John O’Shea are all desperate for a chance to shine.

Add to that the experience in central midfield of Michael Carrick and Owen Hargreaves, and suddenly Scholes’ future might have been open to question.

But Ferguson has no worries for Scholes and has moved quickly to quash any uncertainty by agreeing a new one-year deal with the former England star.

“I am very confident Paul will be back,” said the United boss.

“He can play for at least another year. I have no fears about that.

“He has the same characteristics as Gary Neville, who has just come back after 18 months out.

“They look after themselves and you have to admire that perseverance and determination.”

Like Scholes, Darren Fletcher is a one-club man, and like his elder teammate, he has also agreed a new contract, which will keep him at Old Trafford until June 2012.