Watford defender Craig Cathcart believes Manchester United have suffered without Sir Alex Ferguson.

Cathcart came through the system at United under Ferguson.

The defender said: “Even as a young kid, I was going over at 11, 12, and he knew everyone's name.

“He'd be talking to you around the training ground, it makes you feel brilliant.

“You'd go and tell your Dad – 'the manager spoke to me today' – he had that personal touch, which made him a class above.

“I went over with my parents and met him before a game in his office at Old Trafford. He knew my parents' names, obviously he'd been told about us.

“That sticks in my mind. I still have a picture up at home of me, Mum and Dad and Sir Alex Ferguson. I think I was about ten."