As a young professional it's easy to let the position go to your head, but for Gary a sensible and dedicated approach has paid dividends.

"Once you get into a position being at a club like United or any professional club I think it is well worth dedicating every single minute of a day towards it.

"It's a cliché but eat, sleep and drink football.

"Between the ages of 16 and 18 I was basically a recluse.

"My dad said to me for two years to just live like a saint and never look back in 10 years and wish I'd looked after myself.

"I never went out for two years. I never had an alcoholic drink in that time. I never went to pubs or clubs.

"People might say I have missed out a bit on my childhood but that was a sacrifice I was willing to make for the position I am now in.

"If I had failed I could have made up for that time but at least I could have said that I'd given it my all and that was what I wanted to make sure of.

"To this day I haven't lived quite as strictly as that but I have basically been as professional.

"It's a short career of 10-12 years at the top and I think that out of a 70 year life it isn't a great deal to give up when you consider the rewards."