Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admits they had a lucky break with Paul Scholes's comeback.

Ferguson acknowledges the fates have played into his hands.

The United boss said: "It was a break for us to get Paul back. The form he's showing now is as good as it's ever been.

"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, so it's a break for us."

Ferguson believes Scholes has played with a psychological ­freedom since liberating ­himself from the self-imposed ­shackles.

Ferguson explained: "I think he's played with a ­relief in his mind that after the mistake, he is back and now relishing playing again in the first team.

"He has taken that opportunity. He's probably in better form than 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."