Charlton: Scholes my favourite

Paul Scholes and Gary Neville were given a dual tribute by the Football Writers' Association yesterday.

Scholes has drawn plaudits from all quarters and was praised by another hero of Old Trafford, Sir Bobby Charlton.

He said: "You shouldn't have favourites I suppose but Paul was special.

"He had a natural ability that was breathtaking to see in a young boy and his peripheral vision was amazing."

Neville, too, was quick to praise his long time team-mate and friend.

He said: "As a player he is a great player and the best I've ever played with and to be fair most players who have played with him or against him say the same thing.

"You can think about people who played for the club for three, four or five years and had a great impact but Scholesy and Ryan (Giggs) have played for the club for 20 years and had an impact season after season.

"When you see him getting mentioned in the same league as (Zinedine) Zidane and Xavi, which he constantly does, not by me but by people who know much more about the game than me and who have played against him."

Charlton: Scholes comeback best news I've heard

Sir Bobby Charlton is delighted seeing Paul Scholes make his comeback.

Scholes struck in victory over Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.

"I have been more upbeat since I heard about Paul Scholes returning to the squad," he told United Review. "It is one of the best pieces of news I have ever had.

"He is a sensational footballer and we are very lucky to have him.

"Maybe the one thing Sir Alex (Ferguson) had given a bit of thought to was that we needed a creative player in midfield.

"Suddenly there is a knock on the door and it is Paul Scholes saying he wants to play again.

"Alex must have thought it was Christmas all over again."

Charlton has total confidence in De Gea

Sir Bobby Charlton insists there are no doubts within the club over David De Gea.

The 20-year-old has a tough task to fill the void left by the retired Edwin van der Sar but Charlton is convinced he will come good.

Charlton said: "He is a great goalkeeper and we knew about that when he was coming.

"But you have got to remember he has arrived in a strange city, a strange country where they don't speak the same language and they are more passionate about football than anybody, even in Spain.

"But Alex will work his magic and the staff will work their magic, and he will be one of the great players by the end of the season, definitely."