Former Manchester United and England midfielder Paul Scholes returned to the football field on Saturday to play for Royton Town.

Scholes, who retired from playing professionally in 2013, stepped in to play for son Arron's team, who were short of numbers for their fixture at Stockport Georgians.

Despite having an 11-time Premier League winner on their team, Royton lost 1-0, but Royton manager Mark Howard believes that the presence of 43-year-old Scholes - who won 66 England caps between 1997 and 2004 - improved the overall standard of the game and the players involved.

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes, 43, played for Royton Town at Stockport Georgians

He wore the No 8 and played in midfield as Royton lost 1-0 in the Manchester Premier League

Howard was quoted by BBC Sport as saying: 'We had eight or nine of our senior players missing and Paul said he'd be happy to help out if we were ever short as his son Arron plays for us.

'It's great for the league. He raises the level of those around him by 10 to 15 per cent and opponents don't want to look stupid in front of him.'

Royton chairman Gary Leeming added: 'Usually these sort of games attract 40 or 50 people but there were a lot more there when word got out that he was playing. I can't imagine Stockport Georgians have ever had so many people on their car park.

Scholes did not pull out of his tackles and was seen charging in at full pelt for a 50-50

'We were down to the bare bones. He's 43 now but he's still got that magic wand and he was absolutely fantastic for us.

'He obviously has a lot of media commitments but he occasionally trains with us when he can and is still a great player.'

Scholes, wearing the No 8 shift, did not pull out of his tackles and was seen lunging in full pelt for a 50-50.

Royton are fourth in the Manchester Premier League, which is in the 11th tier of English football.