The junior mentor of Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha is convinced he'll make it at Manchester United.

The England international, 20, will agree a 5½-year deal worth around £30,000 a week to move from Crystal Palace - and that is no surprise to the man who first coached him, Aaron Smith.

He told The Sun: "When I first met Wilf he was at White Horse Manor Infants and Juniors School where I was coaching.

"I was doing a charity event at the school and working with a group. I looked at him and knew there was something about him.

"He was eager to learn and could pull off some tricks naturally and he could play with both feet.

"Wilf was very lean and you could see he was gifted.

"He had something different. He had great skill and could turn on a sixpence.

"He played seven-a-side for us. He'd play in the centre and the other players would give him the ball and he would make things happen.

"Pretty much like he does now. He has got better and better and put more into his game.

"I think spending three years in the Championship was very useful and he has learned a lot very quickly.

"He is a good player but I think that Alex Ferguson could push him on to become an exceptional English talent."