Youthful-looking, if not in the same class as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, it might come as a surprise to learn that Nicky Butt made his debut for United as long ago as 1992.
He has racked up the appearances - and the medals - in the years since without ever quite reaching the heights once expected of him.
Other members of those fabled youth teams of the early '90s stride the world stage - Beckham, Giggs, Scholes - while Butt has been in and out of the England squad and not guaranteed a place in Sir Alex Ferguson's first team thinking either.
Middlesbrough, Everton and Spurs have all been linked with this fierce, dogged fighter but he remains a vital cog in the big red machine.
Made it back into Peter Taylor's senior England team that travelled to Italy in November 2000 but only lasted 25 minutes before injury struck.
Played against Spain in Sven Goran Eriksson's first game as England manager. He then came on as 90th minute substitute for the World cup qualifier against Finland in March as England held on for a 2-1 victory at Anfield
With the arrival of Juan Sebastian Veron at United in the summer of 2001, it seemed that the midfield berth that was once his own was moving further away, but Butt is well liked by his manager and was persuaded to sign a new five-year contract during the same summer.
He has represented England at schoolboy and youth and Under-21 levels and was in the European Championship winning Under-18 squad.
Came of age at the 2002 World Cup as he was arguably one of England's best players at the tournament. His impressive displays belied the previous opinions of England fans as he became one of the success stories of the summer.
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