Having enjoyed a glittering career for club and country, former England international Scholes took the decision to hang up his boots at the end of the 2010/11 campaign.

He claimed to have nothing left in the tank and considered the time to be right to slip out of the first team spotlight and into a behind-the-scenes coaching role.

It did not take long for him to reconsider his options, though, and Scholes made a dramatic return to action in January.

Since then he has appeared in 12 Premier League fixtures and is yet to taste defeat, with United having picked up 11 wins and a draw en route to establishing an eight-point lead at the top of the table.

His vast experience and undoubted ability have been key to the Red Devils' surge to the summit and those who work with Scholes on a daily basis are only too happy to sing his praises.

"We all know how good he is and what he brings to the team on and off the pitch and around the training ground," Carrick told the Manchester Evening News.

"His performances, to come straight into the team and play like he did was amazing, really, and he's just carried on. He's got a lot of games left in him."

Crucial

Scholes, who is expected to be offered a new 12-month deal at Old Trafford, was on target on Sunday as United picked up a 2-0 victory over relegation-threatened Queens Park Rangers.

As has been the case in recent top flight outings, the Red Devils were forced to wait before making sure of the points, but Carrick claims patience is one of their biggest assets.

He said: "We've been having to deal with this for a while. The first goal is obviously crucial. The longer the game goes, the harder it becomes.

"It's difficult with so many men around the edge of the box. Trying to find a pass, trying to be patient, making that decision whether to pass or shoot, trying to keep the ball and keep the pressure on.

"But that's how it is and we score so many late goals by working on teams and breaking them down in the end.

"It's just patience, really - keeping a high tempo but at the same time being patient and believing we'll get the goal."