England manager Steve McClaren said he has twice asked Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes to come out of international retirement, to no avail. Scholes retired from the international scene in 2004 but the new coach is adamant that the player would be an asset to the national team. "I asked in the summer and he declined and he declined again last week," McClaren told BBC Five Live's Sportsweek. After debuting in 1997 against South Africa, Scholes went on to win 66 caps and score 14 goals for England, and McClaren has promised there will always be a place for Scholes on the team. "I don't expect to be asking him again but the door is always open and I would never close it on Paul Scholes," he said. The 31-year-old player said he was retiring in order to spend more time with his family; however there were rumors that he was displeased at then manager Sven-Goran Eriksson's decision to play him out of position. Scholes missed much of last season due to an eye problem, but he has returned to Manchester United in promising form and McClaren has said that he respects Scholes' devotion to his club side. "He just wants to concentrate on playing for United and his family, which were the reasons for his decision and I respect that."
McClaren Scholes is the same age as former England captain David Beckham, who seems out of McClaren's plans. Beckham was not recalled to McClaren's latest squad despite injuries to midfielders Owen Hargreaves and Aaron Lennon. "I've said why I made the decision and I stand by that. I'm looking to the future and players coming through - but the door is never closed." While Striker Wayne Rooney is finally off of his suspension, McClaren is unconcerned buy his faltering performance. "He is a world-class player and he is a player who at any moment can change a game," McClaren said of the 20-year-old. "Because of injury and suspension, he has hardly played any football and he has lost that rhythm. "It takes a while to get that back but, believe me, Wayne Rooney will eventually explode into form and play as we know he can," he added. For their next Euro 2008 qualifier England face Macedonia at Old Trafford on October 7th and play Croatia away four days later.
