I regret not going to World Cup admits Scholes

The Manchester United star has been in superb form in the Community Shield and United's opening Premier League win over Newcastle, underlining why Fabio Capello wanted him in his England squad in South Africa.

Scholes rejected the option of a retirement U-turn, chiefly because Capello, who made contact through his trusted right-hand man Franco Baldini, only gave the 35-year-old a couple of hours to make up his mind.

England's lack of creativity was clearly obvious this summer and it is hard to believe Scholes would not have made a major difference to the Three Lions' performances.

Scholes is not the kind of character to dwell on such events but he admits despite the time he would have been forced to spend away from home, he made a mistake by turning his back on the Three Lions, having initially retired in the wake of Euro 2004.

"I wish I had gone," he told Football Focus. "I did feel as though I had made the wrong decision.

"I had only been given a couple hours, so it was a bit of a rush job, but the World Cup is the biggest tournament you can be involved in. There was a touch of regret but it doesn't matter now. It has gone."

Scholes's admission will not make Capello feel any easier as the build-up begins to next month's Euro 2012 double-header against Bulgaria and Switzerland.

England's poor showing in South Africa has turned the heat up on the previously highly-regarded Italian, who realises the failure to start the quest to reach the finals in Poland and Ukraine will bring even greater pressure.

While Scholes has hit the ground running, team-mate Wayne Rooney continues to search for form and goals – he has not scored since March.

But manager Ferguson is confident Rooney is just a goal away from taking the Premier League by storm again.

It is hard to reconcile a player who contributed 34 goals to Manchester United's pursuit of glory last term with the one who has gone 13 games for club and country without finding the net.

Rooney has not been helped by a couple of niggling injuries that disrupted the end of last season and his start to the current campaign has been adversely affected by a chronic lack of pre-season action.

"Strikers live by their goals," said Ferguson. "It is quite straightforward. When they are not scoring they think they will never come. When they come they think they are never going to finish. He is no different to any other striker.

"But Wayne had only had an hour and a half's play before Monday, which is not a lot in terms of your normal programme before you start the season."