Boss grateful for legend’s imput

Paul Scholes - Latics visitor

PAUL Scholes has gone one better than attending Athletic’s matches — by showing up at a training session yesterday.

The former Manchester United midfielder (38) was at Chapel Road to watch the squad ahead of tomorrow’s fixture at Bristol City.

It follows recent sightings of Scholes at the Carlisle and Swindon games at Boundary Park - as well as Wednesday night’s FA Youth Cup home tie against Sheffield United.

After the session, Athletic’s Latvia under-21 international Edijs Joksts tweeted: “Paul not only support our team, watching the games, but also started to participate actively in the training process. All due respect to the legend!”

Athletic manager Lee Johnson was grateful for his input: “It is great to have someone like that about. I invited him in just to chill out and watch us,” Johnson said. “He also watched our video analysis and I had a good chat with him.

“With anyone like Paul, who is a real football man, it is good to share ideas — just as it is when I talk to Brendan Rodgers and Kenny Dalglish at Liverpool.

“It is good for the players as well, to do things like this. Whether it is this or guest speakers, a different voice is always good and hopefully it gives a little bit of inspiration.”