Giggs, at 39, happy to be old man of Old Trafford

Ryan Giggs celebrated his 39th birthday yesterday with the Manchester United veteran now well used to playing alongside teammates who were not even born when he made his debut.

The Welsh winger is the only active Premier League player who appeared in the opening matches of the competition 20 years ago.

"I got used to the fact a long time ago that I am playing with someone who wasn't born when I made my debut and all these sort of things that come up.

"So yeah, I have just got used to it. It's something I have got to live with I suppose."

Giggs said that clashes with United's arch-rivals Liverpool accounted for some of his favourite matches.

"I think as a player you want a challenge, so any of the top teams really. I would probably say Liverpool, because there is always such a great build-up.

"It doesn't matter how the teams are doing in the league, there's always that rivalry and there's always that ferocious tempo within the game, whether it be at Old Trafford or Anfield."

Giggs added that Lee Dixon, a member of Arsenal's celebrated back four of the 1980s and 90s, had been his most difficult opponent.

"I think Lee Dixon was always tough to play against, especially at Highbury where it was a tight pitch and it was that famous back four and [David] Seaman in goal," he said.

"It was always tough to find that bit of space which normally I can find but he had that experience, knowing whether to go tight or whether to come off, and it was always a test to play against him."