FA PREMIERSHIP/Charlton ... 1 Manchester Utd ... 3: Sven-Goran Eriksson knows from recent experience that the sight of Paul Scholes in a Manchester United shirt hardly guarantees his availability for England.

But the Swede must have managed a smile as he left Charlton.

Eighteen days after knee surgery, here was Scholes, not just lasting 90 minutes but giving an eye-catching display.

With England starting their Euro 2004 qualifiers in Slovakia a week on Saturday, and at home to Macedonia four days later, the timing looks perfect. Eriksson may feel concerned about David Beckham's average form but Scholes' goal-scoring return will surely have impressed him.

When Scholes had surgery on the injury he sustained in a pre-season friendly, his chances of making those two key internationals appeared negligible. At best it seemed he might be feeling his way back.

Yet the 27-year-old's unexpectedly swift recovery means Eriksson can almost certainly count on him. Alex Ferguson will presumably release the player this time.

Here Scholes, used up front for 56 minutes, showed the instinct that makes him so hard to mark. His first Premiership strike of the season was the product of a typically well-timed run off the ball and a neat finish to Ryan Giggs' cross.

Scholes slotted into central midfield when Ruud van Nistelrooy came on suggesting that Eriksson would have few problems restoring him to his customary position.

Charlton deserved their half-time lead. Claus Jensen curled in from the edge of the box when Rio Ferdinand, otherwise impressive, stood off.

The visitors so dominated the second half that their win was no surprise. With Charlton pushing for an equaliser, Giggs broke to set up Van Nistelrooy for his fifth goal in four games.

CHARLTON: Kiely, Young (Johansson 85), Rufus, Fortune, Powell, Robinson, Mustoe (Kishishev 87), Jensen, Konchesky, Euell, Bartlett. Subs Not Used: Rachubka, Fish, Svensson. Booked: Mustoe, Robinson. Goals: Jensen 43.

MAN UTD: Barthez, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Blanc, Phil Neville, Beckham, Butt (Gary Neville 69), Scholes, Giggs, Solskjaer, Forlan (van Nistelrooy 56). Subs Not Used: Ricardo, May, Stewart. Booked: Forlan, Beckham, Phil Neville. Goals: Scholes 54, Giggs 83, van Nistelrooy 90.

Referee: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).