Paul Scholes made a last-minute U-turn after Fabio Capello had planned to hand him a sensational England World Cup return.

Capello went to bed on Monday evening believing he had convinced the 35-year-old to end his six-year England exile and and be in his provisional 30 for South Africa.

The England boss had outlined the role he wanted Scholes to play in the World Cup as one of the two holding midfielders, where he could use his experience and intelligence and the Manchester United man signaled he was ready to take up the challenge.

Capello's success in persuading Jamie Carragher to take up the call to England arms encouraged his pursuit of Scholes, who quit the international scene after Euro 2004 because he felt he was being mis-used by then-boss Sven Goran Eriksson.

But when Capello's chief lieutenant Franco Baldini made the agreed check call at 10am yesterday, just hours before the squad was announced, Scholes' stance had altered as he admitted to grave doubts about the decision, forcing the England boss to rethink his plans.

It was a remarkable event on a bizarre England day although Capello opted not to criticise Scholes for his abrupt change of heart.

Capello said: "I tried with Paul Scholes.

"We have been monitoring him for the second part of the season when he's played very well. We tried to convince him to come back for England because he is one of the best midfielders.

"But he said no. It was up to him. He said no and that he preferred to stay with his family."

Asked if he had perhaps tried to open channels of communication with Scholes too late, Capello appeared unrepentant that he had done the right thing.

The England boss alluded to the success of his conversations with Carragher as he added: "We did not leave it too late. We tried to speak for a long time.

"It was the same with Carragher, a long time, over two years. This time he decided to join us.

"I decided to select the best players. I had to try to convince different players. One of them has been Carragher. We spoke with him two months ago and he said: 'Perhaps, I have to think.' Then he said yes a few weeks ago. He wanted to come with us."