Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs has dispelled the myth that he turned his back on the chance to play for England.

Speaking exclusively in an interview for BBC Choice's 45 Minutes programme, Giggs said despite people often thinking he opted to represent Wales rather than England - he isn't actually qualified to parade the three lions on his shirt.

Giggs explained: "I'm Welsh through and through.

"The confusion was because I played for England schoolboys - but only because I went to an English school. I couldn't actually play for England!"

In the interview, Giggs also revealed his biggest fear in the game - having to fly to away matches.

The Welsh winger said he and former team-mate Paul Ince in it were both so scared they used to hold hands in terror as the aeroplanes took off.

He admitted: "I'm not the best of fliers - I used to hate going to away games and games in Europe.

"I don't know why, but when I first got in the team we were flying everywhere.

"I remember Paul Ince - who I got on really well with when he was at United - had a fear of flying too, so we just used to sit next to each other and hold hands and close our eyes.

"Although I'm gradually getting over it, I'm still not a keen flier."

Healthy state

Giggs, 27, added that whoever replaces Fergie at the Old Trafford helm when he retires next season, will "have everything going for him".

He said: "Although it's going to be a big loss, he has created a club that has the best of everything - the best players, the best facilities, the best ground.

"This is a team that has players at their peak, youth systems that are the best in the world. It will be a hard job but a good job. The club will be in a healthy state and that's due to the manager."

Giggs said: "It was when I was 18 and had played 20 to 25 games for the club.

"At that time I thought that if you'd played 30 or 40 games in the first team, you got a club car.

"So I decided to ask Steve Bruce or Bryan Robson - 'do you think I deserve a club car?'

"They said: 'Yeah, you're a regular now, you play in the first team go talk to the gaffer.'

"So I went up to the gaffer's office and said that I've been talking to the lads and they think I deserve a club car.

"And as I'm talking to him, his head is getting redder and he's getting angrier. He said he doesn't want young lads to get above themselves so he said 'no club car, no chance.

"You can have a club bike, but club car? No chance.

"That was one of my first experiences of something like that. As I walked out of the door all of the first team lads were outside laughing. They'd all been listening."