The classy long-serving midfielder had hung up his boots seven months earlier and enjoyed a testimonial at Old Trafford but was helping coach Warren Joyce's Reserves and badly missing the action.
He decided to discuss the idea of playing again with Sir Alex Ferguson and was swiftly added to the squad ahead of the away tie, with Darren Fletcher and Tom Cleverley out through injury, and the boss was in agreement but keen to keep it a closely guarded secret.
“I tell you what, within 30 seconds, the manager was on the phone to David Gill to sort the contract out,” he said.