Man Utd legend Scholes never thought 'in a million years' he would be a central midfielder

Paul Scholes says that he never thought “in a million years” that he was going to be a central midfielder as a youngster.

The Manchester United legend went through the youth system playing a variety of different positions and ex-teammate Gary Neville asked how he developed the skills to play in midfield.

“Where did that picture of knowing where you are come from, because I played with you at 14 years of age at Boundary Park. You were playing up front at that point,” said Neville.

And Scholes confirmed that he was a “centre forward”, adding: “That helps with your goal scoring.”

Neville continued: “The journey Scholes had, he was a centre forward, he then played a few games at left-back and stupid positions for the youth team.”

And at that point Roy Keane told how it is good for a young player to try out different roles.

“Sorry, but that's a great example for players to try different positions to learn,” said Keane and Scholes replied: “I used to love playing left-back, it was with Nobby Stiles and the B team.”

Neville said: “He never played central midfield. I don't think hardly any time up to 17 years of age. I played with him from 14, 15, 16 all the time.”

Scholes said that the famous youth team manager at the time, Eric Harrison, said he would eventually be a central midfielder although he never played there with him.  

“I probably didn’t play central midfield until I was in the first team. Eric always said I would be a central midfield player. I didn’t think I would have been in a million years, just because I didn't have the stamina and energy for it,” said Scholes.

And Keane said how the coaches would have seen the from the start what was his best position.

“You think of the coaches you've just mentioned. You think of their experience, they see things, they would have seen it all before. So they're trying different positions, but ultimately, they'd be chatting amongst themselves over a cup of tea, going, ‘We see him here’."

And Scholes pointed out: “Well, Eric used to say that when I was 15, 16, ‘you know eventually you will be a central midfield player’, but I never played there for him.”