David Moyes insists veteran Ryan Giggs is an important part of backroom team

David Moyes insists that Ryan Giggs remains a key member of his backroom team at Manchester United after the player denied rumours of a rift between them.

Moyes appointed the United favourite as player-coach when he took over last summer but it has since been claimed that the relationship has cooled and Giggs could quit Old Trafford this summer.

Asked about the situation on Friday, Moyes said: ‘Ryan is very much a part of the staff. We brought him in at the start and he’s been a great help since we’ve been here.’

Giggs is believed to be unhappy about his lack of playing time under Moyes. He extended his record number of appearances for United to 962 against Bayern Munich on Tuesday but it was only his 15th start of the season in all competitions.

Before the game, the 40-year-old said: ‘Of course, as a player you want to play all the time. I know over the last five or six years you are not going to play every game. The last game was probably my first for seven weeks but you are not sulking.

‘There is no problem with the manager. I don’t know where that came from. The relationship is good.’

Giggs was taken off after half-time after suffering a hamstring strain and will miss Saturday’s visit to Newcastle, but Moyes is hopeful that he could be fit in time for the Champions League second leg at the Allianz Arena.

‘He’s got an injury which means I’m probably going to leave him behind to see if he can recover this weekend because I need him to try and get back fit,’ said the United boss.

‘I need him back fit, if we can, for Wednesday night. I’ll probably leave him here to get treated right so he won’t be doing the travelling.’