England: Harry Redknapp wants Paul Scholes at Euro 2012

Paul Scholes

Harry Redknapp believes Manchester United veteran Paul Scholes should be included in England's Euro 2012 squad.

Redknapp, favourite to take the England manager's job vacated by Italian Fabio Capello, likened the 37-year-old to Barcelona pair Xavi and Andres Iniesta.

"You'd love to have Paul Scholes in the Euros," the Tottenham boss said.

"He'd be in your team, he's that good. He plays like a Spaniard, he can play like Xavi and Iniesta. He doesn't give the ball away."

Scholes has not played for England since retiring from international football in 2004 at the age of 29.

The midfielder stepped away from the playing side altogether last summer, but returned to the United squad in January at the request of manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Scholes, who played at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups and Euro 2000 and Euro 2004, played the full 90 minutes of United's 2-1 win over Liverpool on Saturday.

Redknapp also backed his own player Scott Parker or Liverpool's Steven Gerrard to take over the England captaincy.

"Scotty could do it for sure, so could Steven Gerrard," Redknapp said.

"Scotty is a fantastic boy, he's a family man, he loves his football, he trains well, he plays well, he gets on with the job, he's not a minute's problem.

"He's not a Billy big-time. He's just a great boy and that's what you need in your football club if you're going to do anything."

A four-man Football Association panel met on Friday to begin the process of finding a new manager, with Redknapp odds-on favourite with many bookmakers.

Last week, England assistant Stuart Pearce was confirmed as interim manager for the friendly with Holland at Wembley on 29 February.