'Three Lions face World Cup flop'

The ginger hair is unmistakable, just like the trademark volleys that barrelled into the top corner of the goal at Jalan Besar Stadium on Friday.

Even at 39, he was still able to spark a mini-frenzy at the Courts Megastore in Tampines on Saturday.

At first glance there is not much that separates Paul Scholes the world-class footballer from Paul Scholes the retiree.

But there is one key distinction between the man who was once one of the world's top midfielders and the one who now sports a pot belly he is not ashamed of.

Renowned for dodging the limelight as easily as he did opponents, the Manchester United icon was uncharacteristically candid, even comedic, during his recent visit to Singapore, whether with wide-eyed fans or an earnest media scrum.

Scholes, who returned to his home in Manchester last night, was here as part of electronics and furnishings retailer Courts' 40th-anniversary celebrations.

During a one-on-one interview with The Sunday Times, he openly addressed every topic put to him - from the best talents he played with to over-zealous owners, who he believes are ruining the Beautiful Game.

And it was England's Three Lions that bore the brunt of his long-range thunderbolts from Singapore.

Asked to name promising English midfielders in his vein, he scratched his head for a few seconds, then told this reporter: "Help me out, I can't think of any." Jordan Henderson?

"Not enough quality to perform at the international level."

Jack Wilshere?

"I thought he'd be a great player a few years ago, but there's been too many injuries since."

Then, like his typical 40m floating pass that drops onto the feet of a team-mate, he finds the mark.

Snapping his fingers, he said: "I got it - Adam Lallana. That kid should be starting for England."

The Southampton dynamo, 25, has three caps to date. But like any other fledgling Englishman, he has to break the Steven Gerrard-Frank Lampard duopoly in Roy Hodgson's midfield.

Scholes feels that his country should plan for the future by writing off the World Cup in June.

"I don't think they can win in Brazil so it's time to try the younger players like Lallana and Ross Barkley to give them the experience," he noted.

"Hopefully, four years down the line, they can be a better team."

The Salford native has a first-hand understanding of England's travails.

He was often wasted on the left wing in 66 international appearances - a number that is far too small for a player who Barcelona maestro Xavi said would have been valued more if he was Spanish.

At his peak, the visionary playmaker made passing an art, a visual treat and a lesson in physics. He averaged 10 accurate long balls per game, with a pass success rate of more than 92 per cent.

Scholes rolled his eyes as he analysed the role of the central midfielder in Sunday's fashionable 4-2-3-1 formation.

Once a roving player in United's 4-4-2 set-up, he had an uncanny knack for timing his runs into the box, netting 155 goals in 718 club matches.

"Now, the central midfielders make one or two runs into the box at most - it's more defensive, protecting your backline at all costs," said Scholes, shaking his head.

Very much the connoisseur's footballer, the chant "Paul Scholes, he scores goals" rings across Old Trafford - the ground where he spent his entire career - to this very day.

He never had an agent, shunned the celebrity lifestyle, declined lucrative endorsements and turned down offers to play abroad.

The father of two sons, Aiden (eight-years-old) and Arron (14), and daughter Alicia (12), is enjoying retirement, even as he takes coaching badges for a possible role at United one day.

Not even the prospect of playing for good friend David Beckham's new Major League Soccer outfit in Miami will entice him back to the pitch.

Throughout his 19-year-career at one club, the diminutive midfielder has shared a dressing room with the very best - from the charismatic Bryan Robson to the enigma that was Eric Cantona, to the irrepressible Cristiano Ronaldo.

It boggles the mind to pick one name out, but Scholes does - a peer who is one year older than him.

He said: "Without a doubt, Ryan Giggs was the greatest team-mate I had.

"He could do everything - run up and down the wing, beat players for fun, cross the ball and score."

It is with a tinge of sadness that he compares the evergreen Welsh wizard to United's latest midfield pretender, Belgian Marouane Fellaini, a man with big hair but who has made a small impact so far.

He said: "Fellaini doesn't have the quality of Giggs.

"A Manchester United midfielder has to be able to accept risk, take the ball in any situation and try to influence games in front of big crowds."

It is the opinion of a football purist, but what else could one expect from someone who had sublime ball-playing skills, perfect technique and real flair?

Sadly for Scholes, the skills that made him so great also meant it became obvious when they started to slip towards the end of his career.

He made his mind up to retire two months into last season, following a 2-3 home loss to Tottenham Hotspur.

He said: "I was in an ice-bath for three days, my legs were in so much pain.

"I knew it was going to be a long season - I couldn't wait for it to end, really."

Nonetheless, the 1.68m playmaker will stand tall in United folklore, backed by 11 Premier League titles, three FA Cups, two Champions League crowns and one Fifa Club World Cup.

He was the "toughest opponent", according to France legend Zinedine Zidane, and former Arsenal hotshot Thierry Henry believed "if you let him play, he could kill you".

The accolades flowed from the very best, but Scholes himself has a simple idea of his legacy.

He said: "When someone watches a video of me, I hope they say, 'Well, he was a half-decent player.'"

Understated, to the very last. Some things never change.

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