BUTT THE BEST

SGE on his return to the UK:

"Well I don't know if it fair to say it but I must say Nicky Butt when he came in was fantastic. He was coming back from an injury and he played very, very well. He was very useful for us."

Grip on Beckham:

"It's difficult to say just how fit Beckham was because we didn't have the time to test the player but he was under 100 per cent, perhaps 75 per cent.

"We hoped he would get stronger but he was almost at the same level throughout."

And Becks admits it:

"I felt I was coming back to full fitness. I felt fit enough and that was enough for me and the manager."