Paul Scholes is confident Manchester United will benefit from a more "normal" second half to the season.
United complete a memorable 2008 against Middlesbrough at Old Trafford tomorrow night, needing a victory to stay in touch with Liverpool and Chelsea as they look to complete a Premier League title hat-trick. United are two games behind their rivals after playing in the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup in Japan.
Scholes is happy to concentrate on the usual big prizes in the months ahead. "It is nice to be back and to be able to concentrate on the other competitions," he said. "That is not to say anything about the Japan trip. But now we can really concentrate on the league, the Champions League and the two domestic cups — which are important to us."
Scholes was dismissive of the Japan trip before departure, but the 34-year-old did get a full game under his belt in Yokohama, helping his return to full fitness following knee surgery in September. His comeback, which extended into the Boxing Day win over Stoke, came a couple of weeks earlier than expected.
Like his manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, Scholes is confident United have the strength in depth to cope with the challenges that lie ahead.
"We have got so many players who can play in midfield, I was not missed," he said. "We don't miss anyone when they are out injured. The performances while I was out were really good.
"We have got the squad to handle things. There are always top-quality players who can come in and play equally as well, or even better, as the one they have replaced."
Ferguson may test that strength in depth for his side's second game in three days. The Brazilian full-back Rafael may be introduced into a youthful defence which will be missing Rio Ferdinand, who is resting a back problem, and Patrice Evra, who is serving a four-match ban.
Changes are almost certain in midfield, so interest will surround the possible return of the club's record signing, Dimitar Berbatov, who travelled to Japan but picked up a virus which ensured he played no part in the tournament.
Ferguson has expressed his hope the game against Middlesbrough is completed without controversy, after a number of spats between the two clubs in recent years. Incidents involving Cristiano Ronaldo have caused friction and last September Emanuel Pogatetz was criticised by Ferguson for a foul on Rodrigo Possebon.
"There is a bit of needle in every game these days, because the teams are so desperate to win," said Scholes. "Gareth Southgate is a winner by nature. He will want his team to win every game they play and to perform well. Our manager is the same — it is just the way it is."
It is not unknown for Boro to win at Old Trafford, and Southgate's men have also proved formidable opponents when United have visited the Riverside in recent years.
"Boro had a good record against us until about two seasons ago," said Scholes. "We beat them in the league convincingly last season and in the Carling Cup this year but down the years it has been a tough fixture for us. Boro are a team that will come and try to have a go, because their strength is definitely in attack."
Southgate said he wanted his big-name players to learn from United's example. Boro head to the home of the champions with low self-confidence after their Boxing Day loss to Everton and with the future of stars like Stewart Downing and Tuncay Sanli seeming uncertain as the January transfer window looms.
Southgate said: "We have got a hell of a lot of work to do to get ourselves in the frame of mind to go and get something from a game nobody will expect us to get anything out of.
"We have got some players in our squad that we have got to get the best out of, and if we get the best from our squad then we might be able to achieve something. People are always looking for leaders but they are at a premium at the moment. If you went into any club in the Premier League they would probably say the same.
"Sir Alex has got a different situation because he has got the likes of [Ryan] Giggs and [Gary] Neville and [Paul] Scholes, who probably run the dressing room there. Everyone wants that situation but I suspect very few clubs have got that."
Southgate said the qualities he requires did not necessarily come with age. "Experience is helpful but with all those experienced players we only finished in the top 10 once," he said. "We didn't win the league or qualify for the Champions League.
"We finished seventh one year and that's the level we have been at for a long period of time. We are trying to improve that and get back in the top 10. That is still within touching distance, but it is a hell of an achievement if we can do it."
Southgate is set to bring back David Wheater to shore up his back line tomorrow after the central defender returned from injury to sit on the bench against Everton. Up front, the Brazilian Afonso Alves is pushing for a recall. The Frenchman Didier Digard, however, is ruled out with a groin strain.
