Stoke manager, Tony Pulis, has sung the praises of the Manchester United academy, after taking on several players from our youth set up.

“I have to say, you look at the players we have taken who were at Manchester United as young players, and their attitudes are absolutely fantastic,” said Pulis. “We’ve got Danny Pugh, Danny Higginbotham and Shawcross and they are absolutely great lads – it is testament to the way Manchester United bring their kids up.”

Danny Pugh from Cheadle Hulme left United aged 22 after making 7 appearances for the first team and signed for Stoke in 2008 after stints with Leeds United and Preston.

Danny Higginbotham from Manchester is a self-confessed red who left United aged 22 after making 6 appearances for the first team and signed for Stoke in 2006 after stints with Derby and Southampton. After handing in a transfer request, he left Stoke to team up with Roy Keane at Sunderland before returning to Stoke two years later.

Ryan Shawcross left United aged 20 after making 2 appearances for the first team and spending time on loan at Royal Antwerp and Stoke. He was handed the captaincy at Stoke aged just 22.