The 31-year-old Scholes brought down the curtain on his England career in August 2004 in order to concentrate on his club commitments with United and to spend more time with his family.

But McClaren believes Scholes, who won 65 caps, still has a role to play with England yet the 31-year-old midfielder has refused to change his mind.

"I asked Paul if he would like to return -- it was one of the first things I did before I named my full squad," he told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek on Sunday.

"I asked him in the summer if he would reconsider and come back into the fold. He declined and then declined again when I asked him last week.

"He just wants to concentrate on playing for Manchester United and his family, which were the reasons for his decision when he retired from international football last time. "I respect those decisions when he retired from international football and I don't expect to be asking him again. But door is always open and I would never close it on Paul Scholes."