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Paul McShane returns to Manchester United after 15 years with former Ireland defender, now 35, hired to help the club's under-23 squad as player, coach and mentor

Veteran defender Paul McShane is making a surprise return to Manchester United, 15 years after leaving the club.

The 35-year-old centre-back, who won the 2003 FA Youth Cup with United, is a free agent after his contract ended at League Two Rochdale last month and he is returning to Old Trafford to help out with the club's U23 squad, as a 'playing coach' and mentor.

McShane left United for West Brom in 2006 as part of a deal that saw Tomasz Kuszczak go the other way. He has gone on to play for nine different clubs and amassed 400 appearances including an FA Cup final with Hull City.