Michael Keane has revealed a generous gesture from his former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

Burnley defender Keane was coming through the United academy when Ferguson was in charge of the club and recalled the time when the great manager paid for his tuition after he had quit college to focus on football.

"The lads on scholar contracts got £115 a week," he told the Sunday Times.

"I was just on expenses, £40. Sir Alex said: 'I know you've quit college for this – how are you studying?'

"I told him I had tutors. He made me go to his office and tell him how many hours a week and the cost.

"He refunded what I'd paid, then paid for the rest. Touches like that made him special."