LION OF THE WEEKEND - PAUL SCHOLES

"Vital for Manchester United and England" - Ian Walker

"A new avenue of goals" - Sir Alex Ferguson

"Lights the blue touchpaper for United" - Daily Telegraph

It takes some players time to bed in after missing games through injury. Not Paul Scholes.

The little feller was back after four games out with a hernia problem and as good as new.

Any hangover United might have felt after last week's goalless draw against Arsenal never came with Scholes dictating the flow of the game like he had never been away.

Most importantly, all his running and prompting had an end product. After 15 minutes, he picked out Roy Keane's run perfectly, allowing the Irishman to saunter through the Leicester defence to score the opening goal.

Would Keane have even contemplated the run if Scholes hadn't been on the field? Maybe not.

Scholes also likes a pop at goal as his 20 successful strikes for United last season prove. His shot after 19 minutes wasn't one of his best - but it flew to van Nistelrooy, who turned and scored. Game over.

"He got on the ball and made things happen," said admiring Leicester goalkeeper Ian Walker, who is a regular in the England squad and added: "I am sure he will be involved in Turkey on October 11th. That is when you need your best players to perform."

Sir Alex Ferguson knows a fit and healthy Scholes is also a boost to his club's title ambitions.

It now looks as if the red-head won't need an operation on his hernia. "He is one of the best passers in the league. His vision gives us a new avenue of goals," said the delighted United manager.

LION OF THE WEEKEND - WEEKLY AWARDS

James Beattie 2
David Beckham 1
Jermain Defoe 1
Emile Heskey 1
Frank Lampard 1
Michael Owen 1
Wayne Rooney 1
Paul Scholes 1

Joe Bernstein

TheFA.com will announce their Lion of the Weekend every Monday. A Lion of the Season award will be announced in May based on the number of weekly nominations