Giggs eyes dead ball duties

Having waited patiently in line behind Cristiano Ronaldo for much of the last six years, Ryan Giggs is more than happy to re-assume free kick duties.

The veteran star curled home a fine 25-yard effort at White Hart Lane, levelling matters after Jermain Defoe's early opener and laying the foundations for an impressive United victory, secured by further goals from Anderson and Wayne Rooney.

"I've been a bit rusty at free kicks," the 35-year-old told ESPN. "We've got plenty of players who can take them. "Nani's already scored one this season, Wayne and myself (can both take them). We've got plenty of options, but we didn't have a look-in for four or five years, obviously with Cristiano! I was just glad to see it go in."

Giggs' goal set the Reds up for an important win, but the points were only made safe by Rooney's fine late solo strike. With United a man light after the dismissal of Paul Scholes, Giggs was thankful that the firebrand forward was able to put the game to bed.

"With 10 men obviously it's always tough," he said. "They had a lot of the ball and we had to defend really well, they've got a lot of attacking options so we had to try to get men behind the ball and try to get a breakaway goal - and that's what we got.

"It was a great goal. When you're down to 10 men you're just hanging on really and hoping you get something, a bit of magic, and Wayne's produced that."