FORMER Sunderland star Paul McShane could line up for Manchester United against his old club on Wednesday – in the Under-23s team.
The 35-year-old defender returned to Old Trafford last summer as a player-coach for their U23s.
He came through the Red Devils’ youth set-up before leaving for West Brom in 2006 and going on to play at the Black Cats, Hull City, Reading and Crystal Palace.
McShane, who left Rochdale at the end of last season, joined Neil Wood’s coaching set-up at Carrington as one of a trio of over-age players.
And he was not brought in to only help improve the U23 strikers in training, but he has also been coaching the team out on the field, utilising his experience to help his young team-mates.
McShane has featured for United’s second string in both the Premier League 2 and the Papa John’s Trophy.
That is because U21 sides are allowed to name three over-age players in each match.
And that means McShane may well be in action again when United’s young guns head to the Stadium of Light tomorrow in the Papa John’s Trophy.
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The veteran played the full game as United beat Bradford 3-0 in their last match in the competition.
United’s head of academy Nick Cox said after McShane’s appointment: “He was playing league football last season and he’s an A-licence coach so that’s a unique blend of skills that he brings.
“He will join us predominantly in a coaching capacity so he is going to be a resource that will help improve the players around him and he will do that in a number of ways.
“He will train with the group to make sure the intensity of the sessions is high because he is used to playing in intense environments in senior football.
“He will give us a new different perspective from a coaching point of view from within the session and see different things, which is really important, and he can coach from within the session as well.
“He will give our exciting, young attacking players a daily challenge so they will be able to go up against him knowing he’s played in the European Championship and played in some huge games, FA Cup finals.”
McShane never played a competitive match for United during his two seasons with the first team in the mid-2000s.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
