Does Scholes still have the legs for United's engine room?

Paul Scholes is set to return the United squad that faces Blackburn Rovers in the Carling Cup at Old Trafford this evening. The former England star has been out injured after suffering knee ligament damage. Ferguson says that Scholes is chomping at the bit to play. The question is, does Scholes still have the legs to be effective enough to warrant a regular starting place the Reds' engine room? I'm personally not so sure, against Liverpool at Anfield earlier in the season it was apparent that he wasn't covering the ground as a central midfield must where defensive duties are concerned.

Fergie is currently selecting Carrick and Fletcher as his central midfield pairing in a flexible formation which switches between 4:3:3 and 4:4:2 as the need and pattern of the game dictates.

With Owen Hargreaves out for the rest of the season, only Carrick appears to be a regular first choice pick, so the door is definitely open to reclaim his place in midfield should Scholes press home his claim for a quick return to the first-team.

Anderson, somewhat surprisingly hasn't taken advantage of the injury to Hargreaves and then there's Rodrigo Possebon whose progress was affected by an injury following a horror tackle sustained against 'Boro.

If Possebon is going to press home his claim for a midfield starting place in the first-team, then like other squad plyers knocking on the first-team door, he too has to impress when given the chance and it's likely that he will start against Blackburn in midfield alongside countryman Anderson and Gibson.

It's likely to be another really cold night in Manchester and so for the sake of the match-going fans, let's hope that the Red's get the job done in normal time. However, Blackburn will be out to win with Ince fielding a strong team, so the Reds' can expect a really tough game. Danny Wellbeck could be another starter along with Carlos Tevez and or Manucho, it could turn out to be a decent cup-tie.