Reading midfielder Oliver Norwood had revealed his thanks and admiration for the football upbringing he received at Manchester United.

Norwood came through the United youth academy and looks back on his time fondly, despite being released by the club in 2012.

After helping Northern Ireland qualify for Euro2016, Norwood told Sky Sports: "It might sound silly, but the United lads were brought up properly, we worked under the regime of the best manager who's ever managed in football, Sir Alex Ferguson.

"What he passed through that club - to the youth team, to every academy boy - that's something we can look back on with pride."

The 24-year-old Royals star also described the effect that training under Ferguson leaves players with throughout their career.

Norwood added: "I don't think you'll ever see a 'big time Charlie' coming out of that Manchester United system because it's not allowed there.

"We were all together there and now we're all together here at Northern Ireland. We were brought up in a proper football club, training every day with world-class players, but seeing they're just normal people."