FORMER Manchester United graduate Callum Whelan has heaped praise on the standard of the academy at Old Trafford and says Paul Pogba is just too good to keep up with.
Whelan, who left United for Watford in August, is in awe of Pogba and the standard he has set.
Callum Whelan claims Paul Pogba has set the standard for United’s youngstersCredit: PA:Press Association
The 21-year-old said: “The standard’s a joke. For me it’s the top standard.
“When Pogba came, he was the standout, where I look back and thought, that’s not even the standard above.
“I don’t know if you can get to that standard.”
United travel to Vicarage Road on Sunday and it’ll be the first time Whelan is hoping Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side lose.
He said: “I spent 14 years at United.
“I grew up there and it was a massive part of my life.
“I’ve still got lots of friends there so it will be a strange one, wanting them to lose for the first time ever, but there is only one team I want to win.
“It has to be a Watford win for me.”
In 2017 Whelan was shortlisted for the prestigious Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award at Old Trafford, and he stepped up to the Under-23 side for the 2017/18 season.
The midfielder believes his time was up at United and needed a fresh start.
“I think my time was up at United and I was ready for a new challenge at Watford.
“I left on good terms and was just grateful for 14 years and to be part of a massive club.
“It only took me one or two days to decide to come here.”
United’s draw with Everton was the 4,000th straight game in which a product of the club’s academy was part of the match day squad.
Scott McTominay, Marcus Rashford, and Mason Greenwood have all shone since making the step up to the first team.
Man United striker, Mason Greenwood’s family have been offered ‘life changing’ sums of money to quit Old Trafford
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
