Quote:LONDON (AFP) - Sir Bobby Charlton insists he would be delighted if Ryan Giggs were to snatch his Manchester United appearance record.

Giggs is closing in on the mark of 759 set by Charlton during his 20-year playing career with the Red Devils.

The Welsh veteran is hoping to recover from a hamstring injury in time to feature in Saturday's Premier League encounter with Everton at Goodison Park.

If Giggs does make the trip to Merseyside, he will move onto 722 appearances and with an extension to his current contract, which expires next summer, expected to be agreed in the coming months, there appears no reason why the 33-year-old should not eclipse Charlton's all-time best mark.

"I would love it if Ryan got the record," said Charlton.

"It would be so fitting and I would be pleased to have the opportunity to go onto the pitch and present him with something. In fact, if they didn't ask me, I would pester them until they did.

"When I finished I could not believe anyone would play more games than that. I did so much running for so many years, I just didn't think it would be possible.

"But Ryan is almost there now. To physically put your body through what he has is very difficult and that is why I am so delighted for him."

Giggs has always had a special place in Charlton's affections because he was one of the first senior figures associated with United to see the Welshman in action.

The England World Cup winner has never forgotten the day he ventured up to the Red Devils' Lyttleton Road training ground to watch a group of triallists.

On wandering over to one of the furthest pitches away from the car park to meet Sir Alex Ferguson, he spotted a lithe young winger cutting a swathe through the opposition defence in a manner he had rarely seen before.

"I set off for Pitch 11, where Alex was, and got about halfway there when I saw this little lad pick up the ball, beat about four men and then shoot.

"The goalkeeper made a great save but I could not get up to see Alex quick enough. I asked him who it was and it turned out to be Ryan. He had just been signed that morning from under the noses of Manchester City. I just thought 'that will do me'.

"I could never have imagined he would play so many times. Football is just so non-stop in England. It is all about pace now. But if that little lad has run as much as I did, he has been some player."

Charlton has been a fine ambassador for football, both for Man. United, and England.

Hopefully Giggs will soon match and surpass the appearance record set by Sir Bobby.