After failing to find the net since December, Giggs picked the perfect time to break his lengthy drought, coming on as substitute at Wigan Athletic before collecting Wayne Rooney's through-ball and then calming any remaining nerves over Manchester United's 17th league championship.

The problem for Giggs was that as his shot beat Chris Kirkland to send the visiting contingent into ecstasy, he could not instantly remember how to celebrate.

"It was like slow motion really," he laughed. "I put it in the net and did not know what to do. I couldn't remember how to celebrate because I had not scored for so long.

watching me 

"But with the rain, it was the perfect weather for doing a slide, so that is what I went for."

If Giggs had trouble coming up with an appropriate reaction, it is little wonder his staggering list of achievements do not come readily to mind either.

When you first start to list them, starting with 10 titles, he looks slightly embarrassed, by the time you complete them, a record-equalling 758th Manchester United appearance and a goal, his 144th, to confirm the Red Devils' status as England's undisputed number one, he acknowledges it is impossible to play down.

"I am not going to play it down, I can't really," he said. "To equal someone like Sir Bobby Charlton is special.

"He is the embodiment of everything that Manchester United stands for. He has been watching me since I was 13 playing for Salford Boys and has seen me come through the youth team. To be level with someone like that, and win the championship and score a goal is fantastic."