Tom Cleverley could return to United, England midfielder is currently on loan at Aston Villa, but Uniteds academy director Brian McClair claims his Old Trafford career may not be over Tom Cleverley could yet return to Manchester United - Brian McClair has revealed. Louis van Gaal appeared to signal the end of the England international’s Old Trafford career when allowing him to go on a season-long loan to Aston Villa. The summer signings of Angel di Maria, Ander Herrera and Daley Blind meant Cleverley would be a fringe player at best under the Dutchman - prompting him to seek regular football elsewhere. Last month he conceded that he had probably played his last game for United after a turbulent season that saw the club’s own fans turn on him. But United academy director McClair refuses to rule out the possibility of the 25-year-old resurrecting his career at the Theatre of Dreams. “You don’t know what’s going to happen because he’s only on loan at Villa,” he said. “I think hes a good player. “He came from Bradford when he was 12. At 16 we didn’t offer him a scholarship. “He stayed at school and he worked as hard he possibly could, while still at school and at the end of that two-year period, because he had developed more physically, he had a professional contract. “He’s gone on from that to represent his country and to play many games in the Premier League.” Cleverley was tipped to be the long-term successor to Paul Scholes at Old Trafford, and became an England regular under Roy Hodgson during qualification for the World Cup in Brazil. But a poor season under David Moyes last term saw him lose his place for club and country, as well as become a target for fans. The lowest point came when more than 10,000 people signed an online petition to ban him from Hodgson’s World Cup squad. Cleverley told the Telegraph last month: “If I’m honest I don’t think I’d play for the club again. “The manager made it clear I was not going to play every week at United. “It was a tough season for us last year. “If all the players say they were high in confidence last season I think they would be lying. “It wasn’t just me. It was the rest of the squad too, that rubs off on the fans, too.” He added: “I am happy to get away from some of the negativity that surrounded me at Manchester United. “If any footballer gets a bit of stick off their own fans they are going to be hurt, but it has made me strong as a character. “For as long as United aren’t winning trophies, players will get criticised, I’m fully aware of that. “I’ve still got a league title and 13 England caps. You don’t turn into a bad player just because someone says it on Twitter. HH
Posted on: Wed, 15 Oct 2014 17:56:07 +0000
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