Scholes hoping for a happy new year

PAUL SCHOLES is confident Manchester United will benefit from a more “normal” second half to the season.

United complete a memorable 2008 against Middlesbrough at Old Trafford tonight, needing a victory to keep in touch with Liverpool and Chelsea as they look to complete a Premier League title hat-trick.

Alex Ferguson’s side might well be in the thick of battle but they hit the new year two games behind their main rivals after diversions at the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup in Japan.