Scholes enjoys little breaks

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Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes admits that in his advanced years international breaks come as a welcome respite from domestic duties.

Now the 35-year-old has hung up his boots for England he uses international weeks in the calendar to recharge his batteries.

While Scholes remains more than capable of performing on the highest stage, both in the Premier League and UEFA Champions League, he is not averse to putting his feet up while the rest of his team-mates go on foreign jaunts with their respective countries.

He said: "I look forward to international breaks these days. I look at the fixture list and see how long until we get to the next one.

"It will be a while before we have another, so it is nice to have a little break. We still train quite hard, though.

"We have three or four days in and have a couple off to get ready for the game two weeks afterwards."

Squad rotation

Scholes remains an integral part of Sir Alex Ferguson's squad at Old Trafford but accepts he is no longer guaranteed a starting berth.

Happy to go along with Ferguson's philosophy of rotating his squad, the classy veteran is just happy for whatever playing time he is given.

"He has to make sure we are all getting football at this stage of the season to maintain our fitness," said the veteran.

"He definitely picks certain players for certain games. He normally picks me for away matches.

"I still want to play every game but obviously it is not possible. I just play when he wants me to."

Ferguson will be in the dug-out as usual on Saturday against Everton as his four-match touchline ban - with two suspended - does not start until his side face Portsmouth tomorrow week.

The Scot recently chalked up 23 years in charge and Scholes said: "For a manager to be at one club for such a length of time, especially at a massive club like United, when the pressure is on all the time, is amazing.

"His routine has worked well for the last 23 years. He probably sees no reason for it to change. He is always the same. He is in early, doing what he does and he gets the best out of his players."