I’d moved from California to Stockport with my mum when I was seven, started training with United when I was nine after Brian Kidd asked me along, and, year after year, I’d kept coming back. I was one of the local lads and, in 1998, all the local lads were given one-year professional deals. At that point, I couldn’t even get a place in the B-team, never mind the A-team or Reserves. I needed more. More games, more experience, more security.
So I went into Sir Alex’s office and told him I wasn’t happy. He just said that if I kept doing what I was doing, began playing regularly in the Reserves, then he’d look after me.