Ferdinand: Play on, Paul

“He brings a calmness to the game and he can dictate the tempo of matches for us. He’s been doing that since he’s come back. He’s probably in better form than he was last season, because when he made his decision to retire it would have been in his mind that it was his last season and maybe it did affect him."

Ferdinand, however, was vocal in his desire to see Scholes pull on the United shirt for a 19th campaign.

"Definitely. It would be nice if he could play another season. With Scholesy, though, you know it doesn’t make a difference what anybody else says. He’s his own man and he’ll make his own decision."

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