Manchester United reserves chief Warren Joyce is delighted to see their work now being recognised.

Recent research by the CIES Football Observatory found the Reds have produced more footballers in the top five European leagues than any other English club, with Aston Villa in second place, while the figures regarding those competing in the lower divisions are also impressive.

"The Premier League came up with the statistic that we have got the most homegrown players competing in league football and that is a credit to our Academy," explained Reserves coach Warren Joyce.

"It is especially satisfying that many of these are local lads who have been with us since an early age."