Paul Scholes car 'stolen'

Manchester United footballer Paul Scholes has had his car stolen after he left its engine running while defrosting the windscreen.

Police said the grey Chevrolet estate had been taken from the drive of his house in Greenfield, Oldham at around 08:00 GMT on Monday.



A police spokesman said "inquiries to locate the car are ongoing".



Scholes is understood to have the car as part of the motor company's sponsorship of the Premier League club.



The spokesman added that Greater Manchester Police had issued warnings about "ice bandits - offenders who target vehicles left outside houses, early in the morning, with the engine running while the owner returns to the house".



"Motorists may be tempted to leave their vehicle with the engine running while they go inside to stay in the warm - however, it only takes a few seconds to steal a car when keys have been left in the ignition," he said.

City title win convinced Scholes to continue

Paul Scholes insists he needed no persuading to extend his career by another season after admitting he handled his initial retirement badly, but has claimed he was never offered the chance to return for England.



Scholes, 37, called time on his stellar career following the 2011 Champions League final defeat to Barcelona at Wembley, but returned six months later and had such a positive impact that it was suggested he might earn a shock call-up to Roy Hodgson's Euro 2012 squad, eight years after his last international.



In the end, Hodgson never even made the call, which Scholes may well have said yes to. "I wasn't offered the chance,'' he said. "It was flattering to be talked about. But I wasn't asked, so it means nothing.''



Scholes has since signed on for another season at Old Trafford, which Man Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson does expect to be the former England midfielder's last, and needed little persuasion.



"I was alright for the first couple of months after retiring and didn't really miss anything,'' Scholes told reporters on Manchester United's recent pre-season tour of South Africa. "But once I got back into going to Carrington and coaching the reserves, as well as being with the lads, it was difficult, especially when there were so many injuries to the team.



"If I'd stayed away from the reserves and the club I'd probably have been okay. But every day that I was going in I just wanted to train and be involved. The manager didn't have to twist my arm to play this season.''



The real reason for his decision to stay another year may well have been the manner in which rivals Manchester City took the Premier League crown away from the Red Devils.



"It's always a motivating force when you lose the league," he explained. "It's not nice to see another team celebrate winning the title on the last day of the season. That picture stays with you."

Scholes signs on at United

Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has committed to play on for at least one more season.



Scholes retired last summer, but was lured back in January and played a key part in Manchester United's revival which ended in them being pipped to the Premier League title.



The midfielder did not look out of place and United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed Scholes will be in hi plans next term.



Speaking at Monday evening's Manchester United Player of the Year dinner, Ferguson told MUTV: "It has been done. He is staying.



"I am delighted. He knew he had made a mistake. He now realises if he plays 25 or 30 games next season, they will be of real quality.



"I think this will be Paul's last season. We know him very well. We have had him since he was a kid. We know how to use him."