Manchester United U21 coach Warren Joyce says Nicky Butt has made a great impact since joining the backroom staff.

The former Reds midfielder, who celebrated his 38th birthday on Monday, has been assisting Joyce with coaching the Reserves and Under-21s after obtaining his badges.

"It's great for the boys to see the true, proper Manchester United players like Nicky and listen to them to see how they are as people, as well as obtaining their input for information to improve them," Joyce told Inside United.

"It's a good experience for the boys. It gives them an example of what it takes to be a United player with real principles to the core and how normal, humble and hard-working they are.

"I think everybody who works in the Academy here has a clear idea of what qualities United players should have as a person as well as a player.

"We're trying to mould them as people as well as all the things that are involved in being a professional footballer - the technical, tactical and physical stuff. We're trying to mould personalities as well so that being a Manchester United player means something."