Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney admits former club captain Gary Neville was the toughest player he's ever worked with.

Rooney discussed playing with Neville in his new book, 'My Decade in the Premier League by Wayne Rooney', which is being serialised in the Mirror:

"I'm a bit nervous about meeting Gary again.

"I'd whacked him during a reserve game after all - I worry that he'll remember it. It doesn't help that just before my arrival one of the papers runs a story about Gary hating Scousers.

"I like Gary straightaway, he's a funny lad. He's the most passionate player I've ever met. He's hard too, on the pitch and off it. He gets stuck into tackles; in the dressing room I notice that the manager has a go at Gaz probably more than any of the other players in the team because he can handle it. He isn't soft like some footballers.

"There's one game where I sit on the bench with him and he even acts like the manager.

"He watches the way our match unfolds and he studies the tactics of the opposition.

"Then, with 20 minutes to go, he sends a youth team player out to warm up on the touchline for a laugh without the manager knowing. Talk about cheek."