Paul Scholes made a shock return for Manchester United ahead of their FA Cup clash with Manchester City on this day in 2012 having retired seven months earlier. The ‘Class of 92’ graduate had played what seemed to be his final game for the Red Devils the previous May at Wembley in the Champions League final defeat by Barcelona. Paul Scholes’ return from retirement was announced on the day of Manchester United’s FA Cup tie at rivals Manchester City (Martin Rickett/PA)With Darren Fletcher and Tom Cleverley long-term absentees, the return of the United great was announced an hour before kick-off at the Etihad Stadium when he was listed among the substitutes for the third-round tie. The midfielder would add another goal to his tally in the next match against Bolton in the Premier League and scored a further three times to end the campaign with four goals from 21 appearances. @RoytonTownAFC pic.twitter.com/Jybeyh1H2h — Arron Scholes (@azscholes) November 25, 2018That outing at the Hawthorns was not his last in football, however, with the 66-cap England international again coming out of retirement five years later to play for Royton Town of the Manchester Football League Premier Division.

Source: Express January 08, 2021 06:00 UTC