Former Manchester United starlet Paddy McNair is in line for a reunion with his former club a decade after leaving. The defender, who began his professional career at Old Trafford, currently plies his trade with Hull City.
The Tigers sealed a return to the Premier League at Wembley Stadium on Saturday as they beat Championship rivals Middlesbrough 1-0. Next season’s trip to Old Trafford will certainly represent a full-circle moment for McNair.
Now 30, the centre-back broke through at United to make 27 first-team appearances. He was highly-tipped for a successful career, with former boss Louis van Gaal predicting him to go on to establish himself with the Red Devils.
Speaking at the time, the Dutch coach said: “Maybe he shall be the right full-back of Manchester United for the next ten years, you never know. He has the chance.
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“He has done it already in the second-team [Under-21s] and has done it now at a higher level in the first-team. It is not only Paddy McNair who has impressed with his development, as I have given a lot of chances to younger players.
“But Paddy McNair has developed himself very well, not only as a central defender but now we are giving him the chance to develop as a full-back and he did it very well.”
Things did not quite go the way that McNair will have wanted after his breakthrough. He left for Sunderland in 2016 and explained how his exit came to fruition.
“I went on the pre-season tour and after I spoke to Mourinho and he said to me he would like me to go out on loan,” he said. “I had a think about it when I was out on the pre-season tour and even a little bit when I was at the Euros, I never wanted to go on loan.
View 2 ImagesPaddy McNair is a product of the Manchester United academy(Image: Getty Images)
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“I was adamant I wanted to go on a permanent move. I spoke to Mourinho for a couple of weeks and basically persuaded him to let me go on a permanent deal.
“I see too many players go out on loan that don’t play. You’re never their player; it’s a loan. I just wanted to go to Sunderland and play in the Premier League every week and that was my thinking behind it. I’ve no regrets.”
McNair eventually went on to join Middlesbrough – ironically the side Hull defeated in the playoffs – making 219 appearances for the club. MLS was his next port of call as the defender signed for San Diego FC ahead of their inaugural season but immediately joined West Bromwich Albion on loan.
Following his brief spell Stateside, McNair joined Hull in the most recent January window, penning a 18-month deal with the Tigers. He has so far made 15 appearances for Hull but will hope that he can make one special one next season.
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