Manchester United legend Gary Neville has paid tribute to Paul Scholes after he made his 700th appearance for the club yesterday.

Neville wrote in the Mail on Sunday: "The best illustration I can give of his talent is that at Manchester United there was always a possession drill in training designed to develop our passing ability, which might be three players against another three players, or six versus six, or nine versus nine. But no matter what the numbers were, the side with Paul Scholes on their team would always win by keeping the most possession.

"He reached that historic landmark for United, one of only three men to have made that many appearances for the club, along with Sir Bobby Charlton and Ryan Giggs. And, despite the fact that he scored the opening goal, he will have quickly headed home, ignoring the fuss, just as he has done after the previous 699 games.

"In fact, his only concern would have been whether his 700th game had brought a victory for his team.

"You have to search deep into football's history to find someone of his kind of class and honour. Players like that don't seem to exist any more. There might be no knighthoods, no MBEs or OBEs, but every single team-mate will say he is the best they have ever played with. And every player he had played against, including Xavi and Zinedine Zidane, would say he is the best midfielder they have faced. Every fan or every club, no matter who they support, loves the way Paul Scholes plays."