"My situation has looked bleak this season - I would be
lying if I said otherwise. Nobody in their right mind would
want to leave this club if they are happy but at times I
have thought this could be it for me.
“I have been playing here for 10 years and I don't want to
leave. But at my age I do need to be playing and at the
moment things are pretty dire for me.
"Hopefully I have a good few years' left but the last thing
I want is to get to the end of my career and reflect that I
wasted so much time when I wasn't playing because you can
never get it back.
"When you are in this situation, you do start to think about
having to play away from United. Maybe it is a bit premature
to think that way.
"I keep getting told all sorts of things about clubs being
interested but I won't take any notice until the manager
comes and tells me."
Fergie had no words of comfort for him after the match
yesterday either:
“Nicky was not really close to playing. It was always my
intention to play Paul Scholes in the centre of midfield.
"It was important that Paul got a full game in and we can
look at the games that lie ahead later."