Paul Scholes in action for Manchester United today [Photo: Courtesy]

Paul Scholes is arguably one of the greatest English midfielders to have ever graced the game - but Sir Alex Ferguson wasn't so sure when he first saw him.

The Manchester United legend, who retired first in 2011 and again in 2013, racked up more than 700 appearances for the club.

Scholes racked up more than 700 appearances for United [Photo: Courtesy]

After graduating as part of the Class of '92, Scholes went on to lift 11 Premier League titles, three FA Cups and two Champions League tropies.

He also made 66 caps for England, in an international career which many believe could have been so much more.

Barcelona legend Xavi described Scholes as "the best central midfielder I've seen in the last 15, 20 years".

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Alex Ferguson was proved spectacularly wrong [Photo: Courtesy]

While Zinedine Zidane labled him the "greatest midfielder of his generation".

High praise indeed, so it's incredible to think Scholes nearly never made the cut based on what Ferguson first thought.

Paul Scholes won an abundance of trophies during his time at United [Photo: Courtesy]
Scholes was a part of United's famous Class of '92 [Photo: Courtesy]

"He’s got no chance – he’s a midget," was what Fergie said when he first watched Scholes play in a youth team game for Utd, according to FourFourTwo.

How wrong he turned out to be.