Scholes confident over United future

Paul Scholes has vowed to see out the remaining three years of his contract with Manchester United.

The former England midfielder has been sidelined for the second half of the current campaign by an eye problem he admits may leave him with permanent blurred vision.

Yet, providing he gets the all-clear from the specialists, Scholes is expecting to report for pre-season training as normal on July 3 and fully intends to honour the contract extension he signed last August.

“I have three years left on my contract and I want to stay at United for that length of time,” Scholes told Century FM.

“The blurred vision has not completely gone yet but it has been four months now, so I am not sure it will be completely normal.

“Obviously, it is not perfect if one of your eyes is not 100% but I have played some football in training and I should be okay to start playing again.”

Scholes was sent away for tests by manager Alex Ferguson in the aftermath of the Premiership draw with Birmingham in December.

At the time, Ferguson admitted specialists had been unable to diagnose the precise nature of the problem, other than it was unrelated to football.

However, after seeking a second opinion, it was confirmed that a small vein was blocked behind Scholes’ right eye and the 31-year-old was ordered to take a complete rest.

“I don’t really know why it happened. Apparently, it is something quite rare in people my age.

“Unfortunately, it has happened to me and I just have to get on with it.”

Apart from providing United’s goalkeeping contingent with shooting practice, Scholes has also been given a series of exercises for his eyes, which have eased the blurred vision.

Scholes sees no reason why he should not be back in action prior to United’s pre-season tour of South Africa in mid-July.

“My aim now is for next season,” he said. “As long as I am ready for then I will be happy.

“I was a bit worried but it has been more frustrating than anything else because, while as a footballer you expect to pull muscles, this was something completely different.

“I never really thought I had played my last game or anything like that. I was just focussed on getting it right and the sooner I could get back the better.”

His presence in the United squad will certainly be welcomed by Ferguson, who has always recognised the immense contribution Scholes has made to the Red Devils’ cause over the past decade.

The Salford-born maestro has been a regular in the Old Trafford stands over the past four months to witness United’s recent revival.

While he does not believe this season will provide him with another Premier League winners’ medal to add to the six he already has, Scholes is confident United can push Chelsea much closer next term.

“Considering the position we were in before Christmas, to push Chelsea this far is a brilliant achievement and it might be even closer next season,” he said.

“As we have proved this year, we usually finish every season strongly, so if we can stay close to them early on, we will have a great chance.”