• Premier League

Giggs moves into pole position

Manchester United's hopes of keeping a link to the Class of 92 appear to have improved after reports in Holland claimed Patrick Kluivert, prospective new manager Louis van Gaal's assistant as Netherlands manager, will not be joining him at Old Trafford.

The make-up of Van Gaal's backroom team if, as expected, he is appointed in the next 24 hours, has been the subject of great debate.

United are keen for some continuity but Giggs has refused to commit his future to the club with playing, managing and coaching options all possible next season.

The caretaker manager has been working with Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Phil Neville since the departure of David Moyes last month and the club are keen on keeping at least one of them in the first-team picture for next season.

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The most likely is Giggs, according to the Guardian, who is to be offered a the No.2 role on the coaching staff. Danny Blind occupies the position for Van Gaal with the Netherlands but will not be leaving for Old Trafford and former Barcelona striker Kluivert was thought to have been earmarked for the job.

Giggs, 40, appointed interim manager until the end of the season, may bring his 23-year playing career at United to a close by selecting himself in the squad for Tuesday's visit of Hull, the club's last home game of the season.

The most decorated player in United's history with 13 domestic titles and two Champions Leagues, Giggs has scored in every season since the Premier League's inception in 1992, except the current one, though he insists that is not his priority tonight.

"I want to do what's best to win the game and not just make room for me in the starting line-up or on the bench, which I won't do," said Giggs.

Nemanja Vidic will certainly be taking part in his final game for United at Old Trafford and tonight could also mark the swansongs of Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra, with their club futures still uncertain.

Ferdinand has stated he would continue at the club if offered a new deal, while Evra could follow Vidic into Serie A.

Vidic, the United skipper, has agreed to join Inter Milan in the summer and insisted he will go with "no regrets" after deciding he could not line up for another Premier League club.

He will make his 299th and penultimate appearance for United against Hull on Tuesday as he brings down the curtain on a trophy-laden period.

Vidic, a 2006 signing, enjoyed seven years of success before enduring a difficult final season but said his memories are entirely positive.

Ryan Giggs could bring his illustrious 23-year playing career to an end against Hull © PA Photos

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"I have no regrets," he said. "I've given this club 100% and my time at this club will always rank as the best part of my career.

"It has been a great eight years - or a great seven years because at the moment we are not doing so well.

"I never considered staying in England as the only club I ever wanted to play in this country is United and I have been lucky enough to be part of this club for so many years. I've got so many great memories. I never could have imagined winning 15 trophies, including five Premier League titles and the Champions League.

"I've played for the greatest manager [Sir Alex Ferguson] and I have learned a lot, not just on the pitch but off the pitch as well.

"Manchester United make you feel part of the family. It has been a great experience for me. I have developed as a man at this club. It has been a great experience for me and my family."

Vidic said it was easy to select the highlight of his time at United. "The Champions League final in 2008," he added. "You don't win the Champions League every year. The club has only won it three times and I was lucky to be part of one of those teams."

Evra, who joined United from Monaco for £5.5m in January 2006 at the same time as Vidic, said: "I am really sad because when you speak about Nemanja it's like you are speaking about myself because we joined the club together. I remember our first game it was so hard - we played in the reserves. We were so poor and René Meulensteen, the manager, took us both out.

"We were talking together in the dressing room and saying: 'Oh my god, why have we come to Manchester United? We should go quickly back to our clubs.' It was a difficult moment but we stuck together. We have [stayed] in the same hotel, we go into training together, we win the same trophies, so losing Vida is painful."

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