In another fascinating episode of the UTD Podcast, Pallister - our record buy when he joined us from Middlesbrough in 1989 - made a pertinent point. When he was trying to find his feet, his eventual partner Bruce was injured and absent from games including the infamous 5-1 derby-day defeat to Manchester City. However, with time, the pair became permanent fixtures at the heart of the defence.
Their appearance records were extraordinary - both defenders topped 50 games in 1990/91 and again in 1991/92 and were ever-presents in the following season when United were crowned champions for the first time in 26 years.