Manchester United midfield duo Paul Scholes and
Darren Fletcher have signed extensions to their contracts.
Scholes's deal keeps the 33-year-old at the club until 2010 while
Fletcher, 23, has committed himself to another three years until
2012.
"Paul is proof that if you look after yourself you can carry on
playing and be rewarded at a club of this size," said United boss
Sir Alex Ferguson. "He's been here since he was 14. That tells you
his desire and ability." <!-- E SF -->
Scholes, who turns 34 in November, has just been ruled out for
10 weeks after suffering knee ligament damage in United's Champions
League win over Danish side AaB. The former England international
has made 576 appearances for the Old Trafford club since making his
debut in September 1994.
He suffered a career-threatening eye injury which kept him
sidelined for most of the 2005/6 season, but returned to play a
central role in United's Premier League title wins in 2007 and
2008, as well as last season's Champions League triumph. "It's
great to sign a new deal, last season was fantastic but you always
want to achieve more and with this team we are capable of doing
just that," Scholes told United's official website.
Like Scholes, Fletcher is a one-club man. Although he has rarely
been a member of Ferguson's first-choice side, he is an invaluable
figure in the United squad. Denied his debut as a 16-year-old
because he was still at school, Fletcher was heavily linked with a
move to Birmingham last season, where he could have joined old
Scotland boss Alex McLeish.
However, the 24-year-old making his debut in March 2003 at the
age of 19 chose to stay at Old Trafford, where his value was
emphasised at the start of this season when he scored against
Newcastle before getting the vital winner at Portsmouth.
"Darren is in the same vein as Paul, Ryan Giggs and Wes Brown in
that he is a long-serving member of the team," said Ferguson. "His
consistency and level-headed approach is a great attribute and we
are all delighted he has signed a new contract."
Fletcher added: "When you play at such a great club with a great
team you always want to be a part of that. "The spirit here is
amazing and I am happy that I can play my part in achieving more
success."
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Scholes (sitting 2nd from right) has been at United since he
was 14.
