Scholes poised for 500-game landmark with United

MANCHESTER, England, Oct 20 (Reuters) Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson paid tribute to Paul Scholes today as the midfielder prepares to join an elite band of players to make 500 appearances for the club.

Scholes, 31, will reach the landmark in Sunday's game against fierce local rivals Liverpool, joining current team mates Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs on the roll of honour.

''To reach 500 games and be only the ninth person in our history to do that is terrific,'' Ferguson told a news conference.

''It's a great credit to the boy. We are very fortunate that we have three great examples of our club in Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, which speaks volumes for the type of people they are. Those three have been fantastic servants to us.'' ''It's a credit, firstly, to their endurance to play as long as that in first-team football at this club, particularly with the demands and expectation, and their ability and their desire.'' Manchester-born Scholes joined United as a teenage striker but soon evolved into an attacking midfield player who has scored 131 goals for United since making his debut in 1994.

He has won a string of domestic trophies under Ferguson, but missed their 1999 Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich due to suspension.

STILL INFLUENTIAL Scholes retired from international football in 2004 after winning 66 England caps and overcame a serious eye injury last season to maintain his status as one of United's most influential players in their impressive start to this campaign.

''He's a gifted lad,'' said Ferguson, whose side are top of the table. ''Paul has got something we couldn't possibly have coached, which is a marvellous football brain. He has always had that.'' Scholes will be joined on Sunday by Giggs and Neville as they return after missing the mid-week Champions League win over FC Copenhagen through illness and injury respectively.

Rio Ferdinand also returns and Gabriel Heinze could also figure, although fellow defender Mikael Silvestre's comeback from a foot injury will not take place until next week.

Looking at United's title prospects, Ferguson said: ''We have got ourselves into a decent position and quite frankly the name of the game is not making mistakes and try to be up there all the time.

''Chelsea are still the team we want beat. If we finish in front of Chelsea we must have a healthy chance.'' REUTERS PDS DS1627