MCCLAREN KEEPS PESTERING SCHOLES

Last updated : 01 October 2006 By Ed

"I asked Paul if he would like to return - it was one of the first things I did before I named my full squad.

"I asked him in the summer if he would reconsider and come back into the fold. He declined and then declined again when I asked last week.

"He just wants to concentrate on playing for Manchester United and his family, which were the reasons for his decision when he retired from international football last time.

"I respect those decisions when he retired from international football and I don't expect to be asking him again.

"But the door is always open and I would never close it on Paul Scholes."