“It was such a shock, but it was something I had to do. I look back on my time there and they improved me so much as a person and as a player.“-What happened to the other Manchester United teenager from academy who made his debut on the same day as Marcus Rashford and scored twice.

It has been over seven years since Marcus Rashford first made his debut for Manchester United, but he wasn’t the only teenager to be given a chance that day.Rewind to February 2016 when little-known Rashford entered the field against FC Midtjylland in the Europa League.The Englishman helped himself to a brace in a 5-1 win and has not looked back since, establishing himself as one of the first names on the team sheet at Old Trafford.However, defender Regan Poole was also given his debut during the same game by former manager Louis van Gaal.

While he didn’t get the plaudits of Rashford, it was a moment that defined Poole’s footballing career.That was to be the only game the Welshman ever played for the Red Devils, after he was subsequently loaned out to Northampton and Newport before signing for MK Dons, Lincoln and most recently Portsmouth, where he has hit the ground running with three goals in 12 appearances from centre-back.His form even earned him a call up to the Welsh national team and Poole made his full debut on Wednesday during a 4-0 win over Gibraltar.

Seven years since his first ever game for United, Poole lifted the lid on his time at the club and relationship with “good friend” Rashford.“I was at such a young age when the move came about,” said Poole after Wales’ victory (quotes via breakingnews.ie)“It was such a shock, but it was something I had to do. I look back on my time there and they improved me so much as a person and as a player.“I don’t regret it in a way because I had to do it. I loved my time there and I think it’s showing now how much they improved me.

“I was training with such good players and that’s shown in my career.”Speaking about his United debut, Poole added: “That’s something I look back on with great pride.“I know it was only one game but I can say that I played for Manchester United and not many people can say that. So I look back on that and think ‘well done’.“Marcus scored two in that game and then I came on late. He was a good friend of mine at the time and he’s gone on to do such great things.”

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