5 May 2008(Mon)

May 2, 2008: Sir Alex Ferguson says Paul Scholes will be the first name on his team sheet for the UEFA Champions League final against Chelsea on May 21.

But will there be a place for Park Ji Sung, the "made in Kyoto" midfielder who now enjoys cult status at Old Trafford?

On the evidence of the gripping semi-final victory over Barcelona, Park looks to have a good chance of starting the final in Moscow.

Once again he was one of United's unsung heroes, running tirelessly in both defence and attack to keep Barca busy. No wonder you will find words and phrases such as "industrious" and "lung-bursting efforts" in his profile on the official club website.

He really is a credit to the Asian game, isn't he? To Korea, to the J.League and especially to Kyoto Sanga.

He goes about his business in a professional manner, and never forgets the qualities that have taken him to the top.

There are no frills, no tricks; just good solid play, a strong mentality and the ability to make the right decision at the right time.

He has also made the right career decisions, too; first by joining Kyoto in June 2000 without having played for a K.League club, and then by following his mentor, Guus Hiddink, to PSV Eindhoven in January 2003.

After proving himself with PSV, notably against Milan in a UEFA Champions League semi-final, Park was signed by Ferguson in July 2005.

Since then he has continued to improve, despite having to fight back from serious knee problems, and can now look forward to another momentous occasion.

Hopefully the Asian Football Confederation will revise their long list of candidates for the 2008 Player of the Year award, because Park was not even among the 21 names released by the AFC on April 22.

Quite why the governing body in Asia should publish this initial list in April for an award to be presented in November is anyone's guess, as their flagship competition, the AFC Champions League, is only just getting warmed up.

But don't get me started on this AFC awards subject!

With his efforts so far this year, Park would be on my shortlist -- a shortlist of one.

ends