Actions speak louder than words for modest midfield marvel Scholes

For Paul Scholes, the quiet man of United's midfield, walking the walk is always better than talking the talk.

The media-shy Salford native is more likely to deliver a biting tackle than a telling soundbite but he did take time to promise Hong Kong fans a treat when the Red Devils take on the SAR's national team today.

'I played in Hong Kong last time [1999] and I remember it was very warm but it's a great place to go on a pre-season tour,' Scholes said. 'We are really looking forward to this tour and hope to put on a good performance for all our fans in Hong Kong.'

That's about as effusive as the flame-haired Scholes (pictured below) ever gets. He sidesteps the issue of the Glazer takeover at Old Trafford, taking the hear no evil, see no evil approach.

'No it doesn't play on our minds at all,' he said. 'Ever since the news came out, it has never really had an affect on the players. The fans have been far more interested in it than the players, really. We are not concerned about it. We are going to concentrate on playing football and trying to win something.'

No guard dropped there, then. And likewise he gives it the big body swerve when asked if he felt he had graduated from being one of Fergie's Fledglings in the mid-1990s to now being a mentor to the club's new young generation. Scholes is not the the 'ra-ra, this is how to do it lads' sort of leader.

'We have some talented young players here now, like Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Darren Fletcher and Chris Eagles,' Scholes said. 'But I would not say anything like that to them unless they asked me for my advice first. I just try to play football. There are a couple of good younger lads emerging in the side now but they don't really need any help.'