Antonio Valencia scored the opening goal in the first half before setting up summer signing Javier Hernandez for a freakishly fortuitous second after half-time, while Dimitar Berbatov scored a magnificent third after Salomon Kalou's consolation.

But the plaudits of the perennial season curtain-raiser should also go to United veteran Scholes as the 35-year-old delivered a vintage display to dictate the midfield at Wembley. It was an added, ironic twist that Scholes should conjure such an impressive lesson in long and short-range possession in a match which was billed as the chance to move on from the World Cup.

Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and John Terry were booed by respective rival fans following their abject performances in England's dismal failure in South Africa, while the watching Fabio Capello was also singled out for verbal abuse.

Scholes had ignored Capello's attempts to lure him out of international retirement prior to the World Cup and his outing on the seemingly perfect, newly-relaid pitch was a wrench of the knife in the torso of England's boss as he prepares for Wednesday's friendly against Hungary.

Kalou set up a lively finish with his late tap-in, but United, led by Scholes, were the better team in the decisive areas of the pitch and last season's Premier League and FA Cup Double-winners Chelsea will be hugely disappointed by their afternoon.

Michael Carrick was a shock starter for United after the midfielder had only made a surprise return to training on Saturday, having previously been ruled out for a fortnight by boss Sir Alex Ferguson due to an ankle injury.Michael Owen made Ferguson's first XI alongside Rooney in what was the former's first competitive appearance since injuring his hamstring at the same venue in February's Carling Cup final.