Butt: Reds Can Replace Scholes

Nicky Butt is convinced Sir Alex Ferguson will be able to replace Paul Scholes when the veteran midfielder hangs up his boots for good.

The 37-year-old excelled after coming on at Southampton in United's last Barclays Premier League outing and still looks a class above in midfield after returning to the game last January.

Butt, who came through the ranks with Scholes, trusts that the manager will ensure the Reds overcome the loss of another key player when he does head into retirement.

"I think it's always a worry when such a great player is coming to the end of his career," he told BBC Radio Manchester's Red Wednesday programme. "We've seen it in years gone by with Bryan Robson and when Roy [Keane] left as well.

"All these players come to an end and you do worry how we're going to replace them but the one thing about Manchester United and the manager is he does find them.

"He'll never find another Scholes and will never find another Keane but he will find players to come into the squad and make whatever shirt number they wear their own and be their own player in their own right.

"That's what Sir Alex is excellent at doing and I'm sure he's got one or two up his sleeve for the next couple of years.

"They will be massive boots to fill, the same as with Eric Cantona and Keane and the players I keep mentioning, but somehow he's replaced them with a different kind of player who are top drawer in their own right."